Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and once went nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a team that has achieved everything.
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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 biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batters to maintain a record if never given the chance.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a chance to deliver her newest gem.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have come from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort can be debated.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind final game tension. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this performance followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in training, it was a challenging time because it seemed my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was on her way.
"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
By the time she was removed Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the confidence to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if necessary, we are confident we can do it."
These statements will be the final thing competing nations at this championship should hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wished she had played despite the injury.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed consideration of ending her career, this championship is likely to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as captain.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.