Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for Australia to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all.
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It needed until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batsmen to hold a record if not provided the opportunity.
Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a chance to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup 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 fall short again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it was a disappointing period because it seemed I lacked timing completely," stated Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single came off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was on her way.
"The possibility to take the field and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
Once she was out Australia needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the confidence to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can do it."
That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this championship need to hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this victory coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a significant event.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.
But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have pushed back plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as skipper.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.