The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's a challenge 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, in addition to six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has achieved everything.
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It needed as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batsmen to maintain a record if not afforded the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to deliver 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 didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her bow and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this knock was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in training, it's been a frustrating experience because it appeared my form was missing whatsoever," said Healy.
"But once you take the field, your competitive instincts activate and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the right-hander was in motion.
"A chance to go out there and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
By the time she was dismissed her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the assurance to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can do it."
Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this championship need to hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory succeeding success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing through the pain.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as captain.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.