The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a team that has achieved everything.
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It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's difficult for their batters to possess a record if never given the possibility.
Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her first appearance 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 setback by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Certain people claim the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was far harder to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," said Healy.
"But once you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her great strength - and a priceless quality in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and after that the right-hander was underway.
"The possibility to play and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was dismissed Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the belief to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we believe we can do it."
These statements will be the last competing nations at this World Cup want to hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this victory succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting 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 exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at an important competition.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing through the pain.
But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.