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 greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a squad that has won it all.
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The fact it required until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It is hard for their hitters to possess a record if never given the chance.
Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to create her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her debut and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Certain people claim the case for championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this innings came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because it appeared I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts activate and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's competitive nature 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 emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from there Healy was underway.
"The possibility to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun that way, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
When she was out her side needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the confidence to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if we do, we know we can achieve it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this championship want to hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will win from any position has only strengthened - this success following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played despite the injury.
However although she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as captain.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.