The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have already been conquered.
This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and once went over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's difficult for their batters to hold a record if not provided the opportunity.
Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played 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 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her bow and seven world titles have come from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
Whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort can be debated.
Some will argue the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was far harder to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games 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's been a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm at all," said Healy.
"But once you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you just lock into the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there Healy was underway.
"A chance to play and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
By the time she was out the team needed 66 more at run per delivery - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this World Cup want to hear.
During the last week a belief they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this victory succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
But while she afterwards confessed those injuries have postponed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as captain.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.