The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the peak baggers, are the only things left for a team that has won it all.
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That it took until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batters to possess a record if not provided the possibility.
In the end, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her bow and seven world titles have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
If this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Certain people claim the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was much more difficult to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this knock came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in the nets, it was a frustrating experience because it seemed my form was missing completely," stated Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts activate and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point Healy was in motion.
"An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the confidence to do that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we know we can do it."
That comment will be the last competing nations at this championship need to hear.
During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this victory succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
However although she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed plans to retire, this tournament is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as captain.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.