The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has achieved everything.
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That it took until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowlers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if not provided the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to create her newest gem.
Originally famous as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have come from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not come up short.
Whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Certain people claim the argument supporting championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was far harder to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this knock was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in training, it's been a challenging time because it seemed I've had no rhythm at all," stated Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts kick in and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was underway.
"A chance to play and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun that way, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
When she was dismissed her side required another 66 at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the confidence to do that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if we do, we are confident we can do it."
These statements will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament should hear.
During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success coming after win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
During that phase they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wished she had played despite the injury.
But while she later admitted those physical issues have postponed thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is likely to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as skipper.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.