Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batters to hold a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation 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 happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fail again.
If this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was considerably tougher to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this knock was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing completely," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was in motion.
"The possibility to take the field and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun that way, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was removed the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs 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, should it happen, we are confident we can achieve it."
That comment will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament should hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will win from any position has grown stronger - this victory succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth 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 was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played despite the injury.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as captain.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.
