Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have already been conquered.
We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It is hard for their hitters to hold a record if not afforded the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven world titles have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the case for final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this performance was preceded by six games 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 training, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and after that the batsman was in motion.
"The possibility to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was out Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we know we can achieve it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this World Cup want to hear.
During the last week a feeling they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this triumph following win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she later said she regretted not playing despite the injury.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have postponed plans to retire, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.
