The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It is hard for their batsmen to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity.
In the end, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a chance to create her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her debut and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Many contend the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the challenge 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 anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this performance followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in training, it's been a challenging time because it seemed my form was missing completely," stated Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and after that the right-hander was underway.
"A chance to play and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was removed her side needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if we do, we know we can do it."
These statements will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this tournament want to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as leader.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.