The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
We're talking about the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a squad that has achieved everything.
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That it took as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the biggest 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 provided the chance.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her bow and seven international trophies have followed 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 successful run.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable.
Some will argue the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance came after six matches in India since the start of last 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 I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature activate and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and a priceless quality in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was underway.
"An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was dismissed the team needed 66 more at run per delivery - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the confidence to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can do it."
That comment will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this tournament want to hear.
In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
It was at that stage they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a global event as leader.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.