Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and once went over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has achieved everything.
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It needed as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their hitters to maintain a record if never given the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to produce her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
Whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Some might respond with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was far harder to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm whatsoever," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts activate and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and after that the right-hander was underway.
"The possibility to take the field and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was out her side required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the confidence to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we are confident we can achieve it."
These statements will be the last competing nations at this championship want to hear.
During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this victory following victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wished she had played through the pain.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have postponed plans to retire, this championship is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a global event as skipper.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.