The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batters to possess a record if not provided the chance.
In the end, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her bow and seven world titles have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort can be debated.
Some will argue the argument supporting championship match pressure. Some might respond with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was much more difficult to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in training, it was a challenging time because it seemed my form was missing at all," stated Healy.
"However when you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and a priceless quality in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and from that point the batsman was on her way.
"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun that way, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was out Australia needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to do that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we are confident we can succeed."
That comment will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this championship want to hear.
During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this success succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as leader.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.
