Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The top summits have already been conquered.
We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the record chasers, are all that remain for a team that has won it all.
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It needed as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's difficult for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the chance.
In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to create her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her debut and seven international trophies have come from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short.
If this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Many contend the reasoning behind final game tension. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was much more difficult to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in training, it's been a challenging time because it seemed I lacked timing completely," stated Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit activate and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was in motion.
"A chance to play and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun that way, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the confidence to do that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we are confident we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.
In recent days a sense they will win from any position has only strengthened - this success coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as leader.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.