Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has won it all.
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That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over five decades.
It is hard for their hitters to hold a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to create her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Many contend the case for the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was much more difficult to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this innings followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in the nets, it was a frustrating experience because it appeared I lacked timing at all," stated Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and from that point the right-hander was in motion.
"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
By the time she was out the team required another 66 at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can achieve it."
These statements will be the last Australia's opponents at this championship should hear.
In recent days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this success coming after success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
During that phase they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is anticipated as her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as captain.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.