Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have already been conquered.
This is the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the peak baggers, are what's still available for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It's challenging for their hitters to hold a record if not provided the opportunity.
In the end, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her bow and seven world titles have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
If this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort can be debated.
Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it's been a frustrating experience because it appeared I lacked timing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and a priceless quality in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was in motion.
"An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
By the time she was removed the team needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if we do, we are confident we can do it."
Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
It was at that stage they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wished she had played despite the injury.
However although she later admitted those injuries have delayed plans to retire, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a global event as captain.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.
