Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batters to maintain a record if never given the chance.
In the end, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to create her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fail again.
Whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when 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.
"For those following me in training, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed I lacked timing completely," said Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her great strength - and a priceless quality in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there Healy was in motion.
"A chance to play and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was removed the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we know we can succeed."
Those words will be the last rival teams at this championship should hear.
During the last week a feeling they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this victory coming after success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she later said she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as skipper.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.
