Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the peak baggers, are all that remain for a team 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 accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's challenging for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the possibility.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her debut and seven international trophies have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
If this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was far harder to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this knock was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in training, it's been a challenging time because it seemed my form was missing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there the batsman was in motion.
"An opportunity to play and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was out 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.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can do it."
That comment will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament want to hear.
In recent days a belief they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this victory coming after success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wished she had played with the discomfort.
However although she later admitted those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as skipper.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.