Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a side that has won it all.
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That it took as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their hitters to possess a record if not afforded the chance.
Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her bow and seven world titles have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
Whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it has been a challenging time because it seemed I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and a priceless quality in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was underway.
"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
Once she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the assurance to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we know we can do it."
That comment will be the last competing nations at this tournament want to hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a significant event.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
However although she later admitted those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as skipper.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.