Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
This is the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are all that remain for a side that has achieved everything.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their batters to maintain a record if never given the opportunity.
Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance 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 T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Many contend the case for final game tension. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in training, it has been a frustrating experience because it appeared my form was missing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts kick in and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from there Healy was underway.
"An opportunity to take the field and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was removed her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the assurance to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we believe we can do it."
These statements will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this championship want to hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this success succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
It was at that stage they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she later said she wished she had played through the pain.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.