Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are all that remain for a side that has won it all.
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It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the possibility.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance to create her newest gem.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven world titles have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Many contend the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was much more difficult to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because it seemed I lacked timing at all," said Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your competitive nature activate and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has always 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 the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there Healy was in motion.
"An opportunity to go out there and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun that way, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was removed Australia required another 66 at one run per ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the assurance to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
Those words will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this championship want to hear.
During the last week a sense they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory coming after success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
It was at that stage they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wished she had played with the discomfort.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as captain.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.