Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's difficult for their batsmen to possess a record if never given the chance.
In the end, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to create her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her debut and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Some will argue the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was far harder to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this knock was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in the nets, it's been a frustrating experience because it seemed my form was missing at all," stated Healy.
"However when you step out on the field, your competitive nature take over and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and after that the batsman was in motion.
"An opportunity to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was out the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.
During the last week a sense they will win from any position has only strengthened - this triumph coming after success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as leader.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.
