The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has achieved everything.
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That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It is hard for their hitters to possess a record if never given the chance.
Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was far harder to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in training, it was a frustrating experience because it appeared I've had no rhythm at all," commented Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit take over and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from there the batsman was in motion.
"An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was dismissed Australia required another 66 at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the assurance to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this World Cup need to hear.
During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
It was at that stage they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing through the pain.
However although she later admitted those injuries have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is likely to be her last as captain 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.