Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have already been conquered.
We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batsmen to maintain a record if never given the possibility.
In the end, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country didn't secure 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 World Cup win happened three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over 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.
Whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Many contend the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was far harder to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this innings came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in training, it was a frustrating experience because I feel like my form was missing at all," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was in motion.
"The possibility to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
When she was dismissed her side needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the assurance to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we are confident we can succeed."
Those words will be the final thing competing nations at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this championship is anticipated as her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as leader.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.