The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has achieved everything.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if not afforded the possibility.
In the end, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to create her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her bow and seven international trophies have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Many contend the case for championship match pressure. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught 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 been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because I feel like I lacked timing completely," said Healy.
"But once you take the field, your competitive nature activate and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the right-hander was on her way.
"An opportunity to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was removed her side required another 66 at run per delivery - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the assurance to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can succeed."
That comment will be the last Australia's opponents at this championship want to hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this victory succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played through the pain.
However although she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as leader.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.