Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have already been conquered.
We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has won it all.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It is hard for their batsmen to maintain a record if never given the opportunity.
Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to produce her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her bow and seven international trophies have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind final game tension. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was much more difficult to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it's been a frustrating experience because it appeared I lacked timing completely," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature activate and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was underway.
"A chance to go out there and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was dismissed Australia needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the assurance to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we are confident we can succeed."
These statements will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this World Cup want to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has become more firm - this victory succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she later said she wished she had played with the discomfort.
But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as captain.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.