The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a side that has won it all.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It is hard for their batsmen to hold a record if not provided the possibility.
Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her debut and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this knock followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in the nets, it was a challenging time because it appeared I've had no rhythm whatsoever," said Healy.
"However when you step out on the field, your competitive nature kick in and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was on her way.
"A chance to play and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was out her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I am glad we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can do it."
That comment will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this success following victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wished she had played despite the injury.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a global event as skipper.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.