The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's a challenge for Australia to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a team that has achieved everything.
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That it took until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batsmen to possess a record if not afforded the possibility.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy being given a platform to produce her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece 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 from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped 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 scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fail again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Many contend the argument supporting championship match pressure. Others can counter with the test that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, 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 been watching me in training, it's been a frustrating experience because I feel like I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts activate and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and after that the right-hander was underway.
"An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was out her side needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm happy we have the confidence to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if we do, we are confident we can achieve it."
That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this World Cup want to hear.
During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this success succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played despite the injury.
However although she afterwards confessed those injuries have delayed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.