The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a side that has achieved everything.
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It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their hitters to possess a record if not afforded the possibility.
In the end, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a chance to create her newest gem.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her bow and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.
Certain people claim the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was far harder to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because it seemed my form was missing completely," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts activate and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her great strength - and a priceless quality in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and from there Healy was on her way.
"The possibility to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun that way, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
By the time she was out her side required another 66 at run per delivery - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the confidence to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we are confident we can achieve it."
That comment will be the last rival teams at this tournament want to hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this triumph coming after victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a significant event.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed plans to retire, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as captain.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.