The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.
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It needed until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batters to maintain a record if not afforded the chance.
Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation didn't secure 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 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in the nets, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing completely," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the batsman was underway.
"A chance to take the field and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun that way, kind of motivated me," said 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 sixes.
By the time she was removed the team needed 66 more at run per delivery - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, should it happen, we are confident we can do it."
These statements will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this championship should hear.
In recent days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this victory succeeding success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is expected to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as captain.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.