The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their hitters to maintain a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Finally, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform 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 her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her bow and seven global championships have resulted from 10 tries 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 "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short.
If this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was far harder to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this innings was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing completely," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts activate and you just lock into the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her key asset - and a priceless quality in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and after that the batsman was underway.
"An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
By the time she was removed the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if we do, we are confident we can do it."
That comment will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament should hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played through the pain.
But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.