Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The top summits have already been conquered.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.
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It needed as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if not provided the chance.
In the end, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to create her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her bow and seven global championships have followed from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Many contend the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this innings was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in training, it was a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing completely," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts activate and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the batsman was in motion.
"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was out her side needed 66 more at run per delivery - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the belief to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this championship need to hear.
In recent days a feeling they will win from any position has become more firm - this victory coming after success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a significant event.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
However although she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as skipper.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.