The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a side 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 above 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's difficult for their batters to possess a record if never given the possibility.
Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform to create her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her bow and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated.
Certain people claim the case for final game tension. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches 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 challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts activate and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her great strength - and a priceless quality in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from there the batsman was in motion.
"An opportunity to play and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
When she was dismissed her side needed 66 more at run per delivery - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the confidence to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if necessary, we are confident we can succeed."
Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this tournament need to hear.
In recent days a belief they will win from any position has grown stronger - this triumph following victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed consideration of ending her career, this championship is expected to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as skipper.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.
