The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a side that has achieved everything.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batsmen to maintain a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her bow and seven global championships have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short.
If this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind final game tension. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was considerably tougher to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance followed six innings 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 the nets, it's been a frustrating experience because it seemed I lacked timing at all," said Healy.
"But once you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you just lock into the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and a priceless quality in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and after that the right-hander was on her way.
"A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself that way, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was dismissed her side required another 66 at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the belief to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we believe we can do it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph coming after victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as captain.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.