The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.
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It needed until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their batsmen to maintain a record if not provided the possibility.
In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to create her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her bow and seven world titles have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
If this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort can be debated.
Some will argue the argument supporting championship match pressure. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was considerably tougher to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this knock followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because it appeared I lacked timing at all," said Healy.
"However when you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her great strength - and a priceless quality in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and after that the right-hander was in motion.
"The possibility to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was out the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the belief to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can do it."
That comment will be the last competing nations at this championship need to hear.
In recent days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as leader.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.