Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for Australia to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
This is the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batsmen to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to create her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have come from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not come up short.
Whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated.
Some will argue the argument supporting championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was considerably tougher 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.
"If you've observed me in training, it's been a challenging time because I feel like I lacked timing completely," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and after that the batsman was in motion.
"The possibility to take the field and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was dismissed her side required another 66 at one run per ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can do it."
Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this World Cup should hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this success coming after success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
But while she later admitted those physical issues have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is likely to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as leader.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.
