The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
We're talking about the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a squad 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 accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It is hard for their batters to maintain a record if not afforded the possibility.
In the end, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Many contend the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this innings came after six matches 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 has been a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," commented Healy.
"But once you take the field, your competitive instincts activate and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the right-hander was in motion.
"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was removed her side needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we believe we can achieve it."
These statements will be the last competing nations at this championship want to hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will win from any position has grown stronger - this triumph succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
However although she later admitted those fitness problems have delayed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.