The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.
The top summits have long been mastered.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are the only things left for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the chance.
Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to create her newest gem.
Then best known as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
Whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Certain people claim the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the challenge 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 see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in the nets, it has been a disappointing period because it seemed my form was missing at all," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single came off the opening delivery and from there the right-hander was in motion.
"The possibility to take the field and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
When she was dismissed the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we know we can succeed."
Those words will be the last rival teams at this championship should hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this triumph following win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing despite the injury.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as captain.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.