The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a side that has won it all.
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That it took until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It's difficult for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the opportunity.
Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have followed from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
If this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Many contend the case for the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in the nets, it's been a frustrating experience because I feel like I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from that point Healy was in motion.
"An opportunity to play and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was out her side needed 66 more at one run per ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the assurance to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if necessary, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a belief they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this success coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is anticipated as her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as skipper.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.