Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has won it all.
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It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if never given the opportunity.
Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous 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 held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
If this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it was a disappointing period because it seemed my form was missing at all," commented Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive nature kick in and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and after that the right-hander was underway.
"An opportunity to play and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
Once she was removed the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 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 know we can achieve it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.
In recent days a belief they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this success succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing through the pain.
However although she later admitted those injuries have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a global event as skipper.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.