Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are the only things left for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if never given the chance.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to produce her newest gem.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.
Certain people claim the case for championship match pressure. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this knock came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing at all," stated Healy.
"But once you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her great strength - and a priceless quality in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and after that Healy was on her way.
"The possibility to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
Once she was removed Australia needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the confidence to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament want to hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this victory coming after win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wished she had played despite the injury.
But while she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as captain.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.