Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for Australia to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has achieved everything.
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That it took as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It is hard for their batsmen to maintain a record if not afforded the chance.
Finally, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to create her newest gem.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her bow and seven world titles have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
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 ensured her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Many contend the case for championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in training, it was a frustrating experience because it seemed I've had no rhythm completely," commented Healy.
"However when you step out on the field, your competitive instincts take over and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was underway.
"An opportunity to play and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was out the team needed 66 more at run per delivery - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the belief to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can succeed."
Those words will be the final thing competing nations at this championship need to hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph coming after win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with 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 left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this championship is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as leader.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.