Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and once went nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took 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 largest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if not provided the possibility.
Finally, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a chance to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
If this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.
Many contend the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a disappointing period because it appeared I lacked timing at all," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from there the batsman was on her way.
"A chance to take the field and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was dismissed Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if necessary, we know we can achieve it."
Those words will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this tournament want to hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will win from any position has become more firm - this success following success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
But while she later admitted those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as leader.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.