Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.
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It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's difficult for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the chance.
In the end, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fail again.
If this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Many contend the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this knock came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing completely," stated Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive instincts activate and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and a priceless quality in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was in motion.
"An opportunity to take the field and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
Once she was dismissed Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the confidence to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if we do, we are confident we can do it."
That comment will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.
During the last week a belief they will win from any position has grown stronger - this victory succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she later said she wished she had played despite the injury.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is anticipated as her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as captain.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.