The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
We're talking about the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's difficult for their batters to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity.
In the end, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to produce her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
If this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Some will argue the argument supporting championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was far harder to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this innings came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it's been a frustrating experience because it seemed I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was underway.
"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was dismissed the team required another 66 at run per delivery - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the confidence to do that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, should it happen, we believe we can succeed."
These statements will be the final thing competing nations at this World Cup should hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing despite the injury.
Yet even as she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.