The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the peak baggers, are what's still available for a side that has won it all.
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It needed as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the chance.
Finally, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the young family member of famous ex 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 witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her bow and seven global championships have come from 10 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the case for final game tension. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was much more difficult to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while 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.
"If you've observed me in training, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed I lacked timing completely," commented Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and after that the right-hander was in motion.
"The possibility to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
When she was out her side required another 66 at run per delivery - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the confidence to do that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if necessary, we are confident we can achieve it."
These statements will be the final thing competing nations at this World Cup should hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated through the pain.
However although she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as leader.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.