Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all.
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It needed as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It is hard for their hitters to maintain a record if not afforded the possibility.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to produce her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country didn't secure 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 arrived three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not come up short.
If this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Some will argue the case for final game tension. Others can counter with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was far harder to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in training, it has been a disappointing period because it seemed I've had no rhythm completely," said Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive nature kick in and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from there the batsman was on her way.
"The possibility to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
When she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if we do, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the last rival teams at this World Cup should hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this triumph succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played with the discomfort.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is likely to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.
