Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The top summits have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.
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That it took as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if not provided the chance.
In the end, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a chance to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous 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 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her debut and seven international trophies have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
If this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind final game tension. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in training, it was a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," said Healy.
"But once you take the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was underway.
"An opportunity to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
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 new territory so I'm happy we have the belief to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can do it."
Those words will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup should hear.
In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated through the pain.
However although she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed consideration of ending her career, this championship is likely to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as leader.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.