The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the record chasers, are all that remain for a team that has won it all.
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That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batters to maintain a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
If this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Certain people claim the argument supporting championship match pressure. Others can counter with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," commented Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and after that the right-hander was underway.
"A chance to play and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was out her side needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the belief to do that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if we do, we believe we can succeed."
These statements will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they left last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a global event as captain.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.
