Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a side that has achieved everything.
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That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It is hard for their batters to hold a record if not afforded the chance.
In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to deliver her newest gem.
Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable.
Many contend the argument supporting final game tension. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it was a frustrating experience because I feel like my form was missing whatsoever," said Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit take over and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from there the batsman was in motion.
"A chance to take the field and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
Once she was out Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the confidence to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can succeed."
These statements will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a belief they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this success following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in ten 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 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 initial instance at an important competition.
So great is her will, she later said she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
But while she later admitted those injuries have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as skipper.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.