The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the peak baggers, are the only things left for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their hitters to maintain a record if not provided the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a chance to create her newest gem.
Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have resulted 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 run of success.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Many contend the argument supporting championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was far harder to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock 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 has been a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your fighting spirit take over and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was in motion.
"The possibility to take the field and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
When she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the belief to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
These statements will be the last Australia's opponents at this tournament want to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this victory following win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as leader.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.