Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to set fresh records.
The top summits have long been mastered.
This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and once went over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a team that has achieved everything.
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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 largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It is hard for their hitters to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity.
In the end, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to create her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her bow and seven international trophies have followed from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
Whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing at all," said Healy.
"But once you take the field, your competitive instincts activate and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was in motion.
"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
By the time she was out the team required another 66 at one run per ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the assurance to do that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can achieve it."
That comment will be the last rival teams at this tournament need to hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will win from any position has become more firm - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback 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 major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as leader.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.
