Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for Australia to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It is hard for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the possibility.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," 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.
Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.
Some will argue the case for final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, 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 training, it has been a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing at all," stated Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit take over and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her key asset - and a priceless quality in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the right-hander was on her way.
"An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was removed her side required another 66 at one run per ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the belief to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this championship want to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this success following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she later said she regretted not playing despite the injury.
However although she afterwards confessed those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as captain.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.