Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 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 sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batters to maintain a record if never given the possibility.
Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture 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 championship victory came three months after her debut and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the argument supporting the pressure of a final. 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 anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in training, it has been a disappointing period because it appeared I've had no rhythm whatsoever," said Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit kick in and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her key asset - and a priceless quality in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the right-hander was in motion.
"A chance to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
When she was dismissed her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we are confident we can do it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this tournament should hear.
During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as leader.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.