Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
We're talking about the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the peak baggers, are what's still available for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if not afforded the opportunity.
In the end, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to create her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her bow and seven international trophies have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Many contend the argument supporting championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, 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 was a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing whatsoever," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive nature activate and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was on her way.
"An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
When she was dismissed her side required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the assurance to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if we do, we believe we can do it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this championship want to hear.
In recent days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success following victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.
But while she later admitted those fitness problems have postponed plans to retire, this World Cup is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as leader.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.