The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a squad that has won it all.
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That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the pitchers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the opportunity.
In the end, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to create her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Certain people claim the argument supporting championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was much more difficult to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this innings followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it was a disappointing period because it seemed my form was missing completely," commented Healy.
"But once you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader 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 every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and after that the right-hander was in motion.
"The possibility to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
Once she was dismissed Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the belief to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we are confident we can achieve it."
These statements will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament need to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this success coming after win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as captain.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.