The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batsmen to maintain a record if never given the opportunity.
Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to create her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her bow and seven global championships have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not come up short.
Whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Some will argue the argument supporting championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was considerably tougher to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this knock came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in training, it was a disappointing period because it appeared my form was missing completely," commented Healy.
"However when you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was on her way.
"A chance to take the field and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at run per delivery - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if we do, we believe we can achieve it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this World Cup should hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this victory succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
However although she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.