Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The top summits have already been conquered.
We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their batsmen to maintain a record if not afforded the chance.
In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have resulted 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 run of success.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short.
Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Many contend the argument supporting final game tension. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was much more difficult to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this knock followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing at all," commented Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you just lock into the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from that point Healy was in motion.
"A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
When she was dismissed her side needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the assurance to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we are confident we can succeed."
Those words will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this championship want to hear.
During the last week a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this triumph coming after success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at an important competition.
So great is her will, she later said she wished she had played despite the injury.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is anticipated as her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a global event as leader.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.
