The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.
The top summits have long been mastered.
This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a squad that has achieved everything.
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That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their hitters to maintain a record if not provided the possibility.
Finally, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to create her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Many contend the argument supporting championship match pressure. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was far harder to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this performance followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because it seemed I've had no rhythm whatsoever," commented Healy.
"But once you take the field, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single came off the opening delivery and from there the right-hander was on her way.
"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was removed the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if we do, we are confident we can do it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament want to hear.
During the last week a feeling they will win from any position has grown stronger - this victory following win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they exited the previous 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 guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is likely to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a global event as captain.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.