The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for Australia to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
This is the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a side that has achieved everything.
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It needed until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's challenging for their hitters to hold a record if not provided the opportunity.
Finally, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her bow and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this knock was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in the nets, it has been a frustrating experience because I feel like I lacked timing completely," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you just lock into the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her great strength - and a priceless quality in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and after that the batsman was underway.
"An opportunity to play and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the assurance to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we believe we can succeed."
These statements will be the final thing competing nations at this World Cup should hear.
During the last week a sense they will win from any position has only strengthened - this success succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this championship is likely to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.