Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The top summits have long been mastered.
We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the record chasers, are all that remain for a side 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 achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batters to maintain a record if not afforded the possibility.
In the end, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to produce her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her bow and seven world titles have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Others can counter with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in training, it's been a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing at all," commented Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your competitive instincts activate and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and from there the right-hander was on her way.
"A chance to play and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
When she was dismissed the team needed 66 more at run per delivery - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we are confident we can succeed."
These statements will be the final thing competing nations at this championship want to hear.
In recent days a belief they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this success coming after win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing despite the injury.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have postponed plans to retire, this championship is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as leader.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.