Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for Australia to break new ground.
The top summits have long been mastered.
This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and once went over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has achieved everything.
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The fact it required until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batsmen to possess a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
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 come up short.
Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.
Many contend the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught 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 been watching me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing completely," said Healy.
"But once you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was on her way.
"A chance to take the field and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
When she was removed the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the confidence to do that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can do it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this success coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs 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 last-four spot may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they exited the previous 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 an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated through the pain.
However although she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as leader.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.