The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's success 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 testament to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's difficult for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the chance.
Finally, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to produce her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI 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 resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fail again.
If this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Many contend the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this innings came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because it seemed my form was missing at all," commented Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts activate and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was on her way.
"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
When she was out Australia required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the assurance to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if we do, we are confident we can succeed."
These statements will be the last rival teams at this tournament want to hear.
During the last week a belief they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this triumph coming after win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at an important competition.
So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.