The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for Australia to break new ground.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over five decades.
It's difficult for their hitters to maintain a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her bow and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not come up short.
Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.
Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this innings came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it has been a frustrating experience because it seemed I lacked timing completely," stated Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her key asset - and a priceless quality in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single came off the opening delivery and after that Healy was underway.
"A chance to play and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was out Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the assurance to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we know we can do it."
Those words will be the last rival teams at this championship should hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this triumph coming after success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a significant event.
So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
Yet even as she later admitted those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as captain.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.