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 highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and once went nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has achieved everything.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's difficult for their batsmen to hold a record if not provided the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to create her newest gem.
Originally famous as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Many contend the argument supporting championship match pressure. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this performance came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in training, it's been a frustrating experience because it appeared my form was missing whatsoever," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts take over and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from there Healy was underway.
"An opportunity to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was removed her side required another 66 at one run per ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if necessary, we know we can succeed."
These statements will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this championship should hear.
During the last week a belief they will win from any position has grown stronger - this victory succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
During that phase they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is expected to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as leader.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.