The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for Australia to set fresh records.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their hitters to maintain a record if not provided the possibility.
In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to create her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her bow and seven global championships have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not come up short.
Whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Certain people claim the argument supporting 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 definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction 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 failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it has been a frustrating experience because I feel like I lacked timing completely," stated Healy.
"However when you take the field, your fighting spirit take over and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from that point Healy was underway.
"The possibility to take the field and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was out her side needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the assurance to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can do it."
Those words will be the last competing nations at this World Cup should hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success succeeding success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a significant event.
So great is her will, she later said she regretted not playing despite the injury.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have delayed plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as captain.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.