The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a side that has won it all.
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That it took up to Sunday's victory 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, in truth, a compliment to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their hitters to possess a record if not provided the possibility.
Finally, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her bow and seven global championships have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort can be debated.
Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was far harder to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this innings was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in training, it's been a frustrating experience because it seemed my form was missing at all," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit take over and you just lock into the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her key asset - and a priceless quality in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and after that the right-hander was in motion.
"An opportunity to take the field and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was out Australia required another 66 at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the confidence to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if necessary, we believe we can succeed."
Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament want to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot 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 couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have postponed plans to retire, this championship is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as skipper.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.