The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for Australia to break new ground.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the record chasers, are all that remain for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their hitters to hold a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper 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 reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the reasoning behind final game tension. Others can counter with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in training, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing completely," said Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit take over and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and a priceless quality in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was on her way.
"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
Once she was dismissed the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the confidence to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if we do, we believe we can do it."
That comment will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a sense they will win from any position has only strengthened - this success coming after success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
During that phase 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 captained her nation for the first time at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing despite the injury.
But while she later admitted those physical issues have delayed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is anticipated as her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as captain.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.