The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batsmen to maintain a record if not afforded the possibility.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to deliver her newest gem.
Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation 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 championship victory came three months after her debut and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was far harder to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in training, it has been a frustrating experience because it seemed I lacked timing at all," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her key asset - and a priceless quality in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last 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 Gaud's first delivery and from that point Healy was underway.
"The possibility to play and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was out her side needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if necessary, we believe we can achieve it."
That comment will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this tournament should hear.
During the last week a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph coming after victory over 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 probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
But while she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back plans to retire, this championship is expected to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as skipper.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.