The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their hitters to possess a record if not provided the opportunity.
In the end, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to produce her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia didn't secure 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 came three months after her debut and seven world titles have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Certain people claim the case for final game tension. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was considerably tougher to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in the nets, it was a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing completely," commented Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your competitive instincts activate and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and after that Healy was underway.
"A chance to play and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was dismissed her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the belief to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can succeed."
Those words will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this championship need to hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this success succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
During that phase they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at an important competition.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wished she had played despite the injury.
But while she later admitted those injuries have postponed plans to retire, this World Cup is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as leader.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.