The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the record chasers, are all that remain for a team that has achieved everything.
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It needed until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batters to possess a record if never given the possibility.
Finally, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to create her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her debut and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fail again.
Whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort is debatable.
Many contend the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this knock came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in the nets, it was a frustrating experience because it seemed I've had no rhythm at all," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her key asset - and a priceless quality in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from there Healy was in motion.
"An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was removed her side needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we believe we can achieve it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this championship need to hear.
In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they left last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing despite the injury.
However although she later admitted those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a global event as captain.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.