Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has achieved everything.
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It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if not afforded the opportunity.
In the end, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to create her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance 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 scored 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fail again.
If this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the argument supporting championship match pressure. Others can counter with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing completely," commented Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and after that the right-hander was underway.
"The possibility to play and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was removed the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
These statements will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this championship need to hear.
During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous 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 afterwards commented she regretted not playing despite the injury.
However although she afterwards confessed those physical issues have delayed plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as skipper.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.