The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the achievement hunters, are what's still available 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 complete their first ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batters to hold a record if not provided the opportunity.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a platform to produce her newest gem.
Then best known as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her bow and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there 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 stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was far harder to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in training, it was a disappointing period because it appeared I lacked timing at all," stated Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit kick in and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was underway.
"An opportunity to go out there and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
Once she was dismissed her side needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the confidence to do that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we are confident we can succeed."
Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament need to hear.
In recent days a belief they will win from any position has become more firm - this success coming after success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play 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 at that stage they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she later said she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
Yet even as she later admitted those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as captain.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.