The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
This is the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has won it all.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the largest 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 is hard for their hitters to hold a record if not afforded the chance.
Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was much more difficult to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this performance followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it was a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your competitive instincts activate and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and a priceless quality in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was in motion.
"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
When she was out her side needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can achieve it."
That comment will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament want to hear.
During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this success coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played with the discomfort.
But while she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have postponed plans to retire, this World Cup is anticipated as her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as captain.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.