Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The top summits have long been mastered.
This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has won it all.
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It needed as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's difficult for their batters to possess a record if not provided the chance.
Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to create her newest gem.
Then best known as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her bow and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fail again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind final game tension. Others can counter 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 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it's been a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing completely," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
A single came off the opening delivery and from that point the right-hander was in motion.
"A chance to take the field and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
By the time she was removed Australia required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if necessary, we believe we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this tournament should hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will win from any position has become more firm - this victory coming after success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of torn 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 despite the injury.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as skipper.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.