Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for Australia to break new ground.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a team that has achieved everything.
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It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batters to possess a record if not provided the chance.
In the end, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her debut and seven global championships have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Some will argue the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it's been a frustrating experience because it appeared my form was missing completely," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your fighting spirit take over and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's 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 opening delivery and from that point the right-hander was on her way.
"An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
By the time she was out her side needed 66 more at run per delivery - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the belief to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if we do, we believe we can do it."
These statements will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this championship need to hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they left last 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 guided Australia for the first time at a significant event.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing through the pain.
However although she afterwards confessed those injuries have delayed consideration of ending her career, this championship is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as leader.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.