Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, 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 until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the chance.
Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her bow and seven global championships have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper 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 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 named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
If this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort can be debated.
Some will argue the argument supporting final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in the nets, it has been a frustrating experience because it appeared I've had no rhythm whatsoever," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you just lock into the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single came off the opening delivery and from there the batsman was on her way.
"An opportunity to take the field and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was dismissed the team required another 66 at run per delivery - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the confidence to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this championship need to hear.
During the last week a feeling they will win from any position has grown stronger - this triumph coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback 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 a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wished she had played with the discomfort.
But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have pushed back plans to retire, this championship is likely to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.