Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have already been conquered.
We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are the only things left for a side that has won it all.
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It needed as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if not afforded the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
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 made sure her country would not come up short.
Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Some will argue 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 definite is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in the nets, it was a disappointing period because it appeared I've had no rhythm completely," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive nature activate and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single came off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was underway.
"An opportunity to take the field and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
When she was out her side required another 66 at run per delivery - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we are confident we can do it."
Those words will be the last Australia's opponents at this championship want to hear.
During the last week a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this victory succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot 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 match Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played with the discomfort.
But while she later admitted those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as leader.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.