The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It is hard for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Finally, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to create her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
If this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Some will argue the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was considerably tougher to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this knock was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month 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," said Healy.
"But once you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her key asset - and a priceless quality in succeeding famous previous leader 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 every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the right-hander was in motion.
"A chance to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
When she was removed the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the belief to do that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, should it happen, we are confident we can do it."
Those words will be the last Australia's opponents at this tournament want to hear.
During the last week a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is likely to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as leader.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.