The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more 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 the only things left for a squad that has won it all.
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It needed as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batsmen to maintain a record if never given the possibility.
In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to produce her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her bow and seven international trophies have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the case for final game tension. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it was a frustrating experience because it appeared I lacked timing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive nature activate and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
A single came off the opening delivery and from there Healy was in motion.
"A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
By the time she was out her side needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if we do, we believe we can do it."
That comment will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.
During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this success coming after win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as leader.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.