Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the peak baggers, are what's still available for a side that has achieved everything.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowlers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if never given the chance.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to produce her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her debut and seven international trophies have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
Whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was far harder to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, 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 practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because it appeared I've had no rhythm whatsoever," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single came off the opening delivery and after that Healy was in motion.
"An opportunity to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was dismissed the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if we do, we know we can succeed."
These statements will be the last rival teams at this World Cup want to hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this triumph coming after success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wished she had played through the pain.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those injuries 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 captain.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.