Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have long been mastered.
This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the chance.
In the end, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her bow and seven world titles have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short.
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 test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was far harder to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because it seemed I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts activate and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player 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 spark.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from that point Healy was in motion.
"The possibility to play and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was out Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can do it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this championship should hear.
In recent days a sense they will win from any position has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing through the pain.
However although she later admitted those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as captain.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.