Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the pitchers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It's difficult for their hitters to possess a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable.
Some will argue the case for final game tension. Some might respond with the test that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings 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 was a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.
"But once you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from there the batsman was underway.
"The possibility to play and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
When she was removed her side required another 66 at one run per ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the confidence to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if we do, we know we can achieve it."
Those words will be the last rival teams at this World Cup need to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.