Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the record chasers, are all that remain for a squad that has achieved everything.
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It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batters to maintain a record if never given the opportunity.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to create her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind final game tension. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was much more difficult to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in the nets, it's been a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing completely," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was underway.
"An opportunity to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was dismissed Australia needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the confidence to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this World Cup need to hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing through the pain.
But while she afterwards confessed those injuries have delayed plans to retire, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.