Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and once went over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has achieved everything.
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It needed as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batters to maintain a record if never given the possibility.
Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her newest gem.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fail again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Many contend the case for the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the difficulty 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 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this performance came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing at all," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts activate and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was on her way.
"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
When she was removed her side required another 66 at run per delivery - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if we do, we know we can achieve it."
Those words will be the final 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 triumph coming after win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at an important competition.
So great is her will, she later said she regretted not playing through the pain.
But while she later admitted those injuries have delayed plans to retire, this World Cup is expected to be her concluding event as leader 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 final mountain.