The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are all that remain for a side that has won it all.
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The fact it required until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the possibility.
In the end, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her bow and seven international trophies have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
Whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated.
Many contend the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was much more difficult to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this knock was preceded by six games 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's been a disappointing period because it appeared my form was missing at all," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single came off the opening delivery and from that point the right-hander was on her way.
"A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was removed Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we know we can do it."
Those words will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup need to hear.
During the last week a feeling they will win from any position has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they left last 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 led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as leader.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.