Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have already been conquered.
We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are the only things left 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 complete their first ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the pitchers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if never given the chance.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to create her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her bow and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
Whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Many contend the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because it seemed I lacked timing completely," said Healy.
"But once you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the right-hander was underway.
"A chance to take the field and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
By the time she was removed the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this World Cup need to hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this victory coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at an important competition.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
However although she later admitted those injuries have delayed plans to retire, this World Cup is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as captain.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.