Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for Australia to break new ground.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are all that remain for a squad that has won it all.
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It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It is hard for their batters to maintain a record if not provided the chance.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to create her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia failed to win 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 happened three months after her bow and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Others can counter with the test that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was far harder to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in the nets, it was a disappointing period because it appeared my form was missing at all," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was underway.
"The possibility to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
Once she was dismissed her side needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters 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 necessary, we believe we can achieve it."
That comment will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this tournament need to hear.
In recent days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this triumph coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they exited 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 led her country for the first time at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wished she had played through the pain.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have postponed thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.