Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a squad that has achieved everything.
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That it took until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batters to maintain a record if not provided the chance.
In the end, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this innings 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 training, it's been a frustrating experience because I feel like I lacked timing whatsoever," said Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts kick in and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was in motion.
"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was dismissed her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the confidence to do that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we believe we can achieve it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this championship should hear.
In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this victory coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as skipper.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.