Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have long been mastered.
This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the opportunity.
Ultimately, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to produce her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven international trophies have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was considerably tougher to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in training, it's been a disappointing period because it appeared my form was missing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature kick in and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was underway.
"The possibility to take the field and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun that way, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if we do, we know we can do it."
These statements will be the final thing rival teams at this World Cup want to hear.
In recent days a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success succeeding win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
It was at that stage they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.
Yet even as she later admitted those injuries have postponed plans to retire, this tournament is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as leader.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.