Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for Australia to break new ground.
The top summits have long been mastered.
This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's difficult for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the chance.
In the end, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 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 latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Many contend the argument supporting final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was far harder to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this innings 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 been watching me in training, it's been a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts take over and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was in motion.
"An opportunity to go out there and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was dismissed the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the belief to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if we do, we are confident we can achieve it."
That comment will be the last rival teams at this tournament need to hear.
During the last week a belief they will win from any position has grown stronger - this triumph following win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wished she had played with the discomfort.
However although she afterwards confessed those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as captain.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.
