Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and once went over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all.
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That it took as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batters to maintain a record if never given the possibility.
Ultimately, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this ton was far harder to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings 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 was a frustrating experience because it seemed I've had no rhythm at all," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive nature activate and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was on her way.
"An opportunity to play and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was removed her side needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if we do, we are confident we can do it."
That comment will be the final thing rival teams at this World Cup want to hear.
During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have delayed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as captain.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.