The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for Australia to break new ground.
The top summits have already been conquered.
We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a squad that has won it all.
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It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It is hard for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the possibility.
In the end, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to create her newest gem.
Then best known as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
If this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Many contend the case for championship match pressure. 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 hundred was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in the nets, it's been a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing completely," said Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts kick in and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from there Healy was in motion.
"An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
Once she was dismissed her side needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if we do, we believe we can succeed."
Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this tournament should hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will win from any position has become more firm - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
During that phase they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she later said she wished she had played with the discomfort.
But while she later admitted those injuries have postponed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.