The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a team that has achieved everything.
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That it took as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if never given the possibility.
Ultimately, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her debut and seven world titles have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated.
Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the test that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was far harder to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while 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 been watching me in training, it was a frustrating experience because it appeared my form was missing completely," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts activate and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from there Healy was on her way.
"A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun that way, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
By the time she was out Australia required another 66 at one run per ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can do it."
These statements will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.
In recent days a feeling they will win from any position has grown stronger - this triumph coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played with the discomfort.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this tournament is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as skipper.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.