The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are the only things left for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their hitters to possess a record if never given the chance.
In the end, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a chance to create her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her bow and seven global championships have come from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was much more difficult to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this knock was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in the nets, it was a disappointing period because it seemed I lacked timing completely," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your fighting spirit take over and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was on her way.
"The possibility to play and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun that way, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
Once she was removed her side required another 66 at one run per ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the confidence to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if we do, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament should hear.
During the last week a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
Yet even as she later admitted those injuries have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.
