The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and once went over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batters to maintain a record if not afforded the opportunity.
In the end, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to create her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated.
Some will argue the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this performance followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it was a disappointing period because it seemed my form was missing at all," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive nature kick in and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her key asset - and a priceless quality in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was on her way.
"An opportunity to play and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
Once she was removed the team required another 66 at run per delivery - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if necessary, we are confident we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this tournament need to hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot 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 - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she later said she wished she had played through the pain.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as captain.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.