The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It is hard for their batsmen to hold a record if not provided the opportunity.
In the end, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to produce her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
If this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Many contend the case for championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in training, it's been a challenging time because it seemed my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"But once you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the right-hander was underway.
"An opportunity to play and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
Once she was removed Australia required another 66 at one run per ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the confidence to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if necessary, we are confident we can succeed."
That comment will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this championship should hear.
During the last week a sense they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory following win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as captain.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.