The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It is hard for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the opportunity.
In the end, the result of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
If this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Many contend the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this knock was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it has been a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing at all," commented Healy.
"However when you step out on the field, your competitive instincts activate and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there Healy was in motion.
"A chance to take the field and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was out Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the belief to do that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can succeed."
Those words will be the last rival teams at this championship want to hear.
During the last week a feeling they will win from any position has become more firm - this triumph coming after success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a significant event.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing despite the injury.
But while she later admitted those injuries have delayed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as skipper.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.