Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have long been mastered.
We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their batsmen to maintain a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her newest gem.
Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her bow and seven world titles have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this innings was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing whatsoever," said Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and after that Healy was on her way.
"The possibility to play and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun that way, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
Once she was removed the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the confidence to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we believe we can do it."
Those words will be the last rival teams at this World Cup need to hear.
During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this triumph following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is anticipated as her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as skipper.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.