The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the possibility.
In the end, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
If this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in training, it has been a frustrating experience because I feel like I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive nature kick in and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the batsman was on her way.
"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was dismissed Australia required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the assurance to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if we do, we are confident we can do it."
That comment will be the last rival teams at this tournament need to hear.
During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin 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 semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they left last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as leader.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.