The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a squad that has achieved everything.
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That it took until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their hitters to possess a record if not provided the possibility.
Finally, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to create her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her bow and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort is debatable.
Many contend the case for final game tension. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this knock followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in training, it was a frustrating experience because I feel like I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her key asset - and a priceless quality in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there the batsman was underway.
"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was dismissed Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the assurance to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can do it."
Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this World Cup want to hear.
In recent days a sense they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory following win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
It was at that stage they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she later said she regretted not playing through the pain.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a global event as captain.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.