Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to set fresh records.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a squad that has won it all.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It is hard for their hitters to maintain a record if never given the chance.
In the end, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to create her most recent brilliance.
Then best known 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 conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this knock came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it's been a frustrating experience because I feel like my form was missing at all," said Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was underway.
"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun that way, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
When she was dismissed the team needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can succeed."
These statements will be the last competing nations at this tournament should hear.
During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success coming after victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she later said she wished she had played despite the injury.
But while she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as captain.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.
