Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if never given the possibility.
In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her debut and seven global championships have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
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 named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
If this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was considerably tougher to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this knock 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 practice sessions, it has been a challenging time because it seemed I've had no rhythm at all," stated Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit activate and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and after that Healy was underway.
"An opportunity to take the field and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
When she was removed her side needed 66 more at run per delivery - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if we do, we believe we can succeed."
Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success succeeding win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
It was at that stage they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as skipper.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.
