Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team 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 accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if not provided the chance.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her bow and seven world titles have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short.
Whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the reasoning behind final game tension. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was far harder to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it's been a frustrating experience because I feel like I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single came off the opening delivery and from that point the right-hander was on her way.
"The possibility to take the field and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was dismissed the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if we do, we are confident we can achieve it."
These statements will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this tournament need to hear.
During the last week a feeling they will win from any position has become more firm - this triumph following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
However although she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have postponed thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a global event as captain.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.