The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are the only things left for a side that has achieved everything.
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That it took until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their hitters to possess a record if never given the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her bow and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
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 ensured her country would not fall short again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort can be debated.
Many contend the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was far harder to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this performance followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in training, it has been a disappointing period because it appeared my form was missing completely," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature kick in and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and from that point the batsman was on her way.
"An opportunity to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
When she was dismissed the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the confidence to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we believe we can do it."
Those words will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this championship need to hear.
During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success coming after success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wished she had played through the pain.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as captain.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.