Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a squad that has won it all.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's challenging for their batsmen to maintain a record if never given the opportunity.
In the end, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her newest gem.
Then best known as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her debut and seven international trophies have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not come up short.
If this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was considerably tougher to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this innings was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in training, it has been a frustrating experience because it seemed I lacked timing whatsoever," said Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and after that the right-hander was on her way.
"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
Once she was dismissed Australia required another 66 at one run per ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to do that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if we do, we believe we can do it."
These statements will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this tournament want to hear.
In recent days a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success succeeding win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
It was at that stage they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wished she had played despite the injury.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed consideration of ending her career, this championship is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a global event as captain.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.
