Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
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 previously enjoyed over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a team that has won it all.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It is hard for their batters to hold a record if not afforded the chance.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her bow and seven international trophies have followed from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable.
Some will argue the case for final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this knock was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in the nets, it was a challenging time because it appeared I've had no rhythm at all," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and from there the batsman was underway.
"An opportunity to take the field and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
By the time she was removed her side needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the confidence to do that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we believe we can succeed."
That comment will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament need to hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this victory coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
Yet even as she later admitted those injuries have delayed plans to retire, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as captain.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.