The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a squad 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 accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their batsmen to hold a record if not afforded the chance.
Finally, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to create her newest gem.
Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
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's definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this innings followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it was a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing completely," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her great strength - and a priceless quality in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was on her way.
"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
Once she was removed Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the confidence to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we are confident we can succeed."
That comment will be the last rival teams at this World Cup need to hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this success following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
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 probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat 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.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.
But while she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as leader.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.