The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and once went over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the record chasers, are the only things left for a team that has won it all.
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It needed until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batsmen to hold a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to produce her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have come from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not come up short.
Whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Many contend the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this knock came after six matches in India since the start of last month 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 my form was missing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts take over and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single came off the opening delivery and from that point the batsman was on her way.
"A chance to go out there and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
Once she was removed her side needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the assurance to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we know we can achieve it."
These statements will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this championship should hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this success coming after win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wished she had played through the pain.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as leader.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.