Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the peak baggers, are what's still available for a squad 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, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their hitters to maintain a record if not provided the chance.
In the end, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving 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 her nation failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her debut 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 rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not come up short.
Whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated.
Certain people claim the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was far harder to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this knock was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it's been a frustrating experience because I feel like my form was missing at all," said Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and a priceless quality in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and after that the batsman was underway.
"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 got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was removed her side needed 66 more at run per delivery - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the belief to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can do it."
Those words will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup need to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she later said she wished she had played with the discomfort.
However although she afterwards confessed those physical issues have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as skipper.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.