Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The top summits have long been mastered.
We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all.
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That it took until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It is hard for their hitters to maintain a record if not afforded the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given a chance to create her newest gem.
Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "pushed 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 title decider and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Many contend the case for championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was much more difficult to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in the nets, it's been a challenging time because I feel like I lacked timing completely," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and after that the right-hander was underway.
"A chance to play and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
When she was dismissed the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the confidence to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if necessary, we believe we can do it."
That comment will be the last Australia's opponents at this tournament should hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this victory following win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at an important competition.
So great is her will, she later said she wished she had played despite the injury.
However although she afterwards confessed those injuries have postponed plans to retire, this World Cup is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as leader.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.