Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The top summits have already been conquered.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.
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It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's difficult for their batters to hold a record if never given the chance.
In the end, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the T20 or ODI 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 come from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
If this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.
Some will argue the case for championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was much more difficult to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in training, it was a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing completely," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts activate and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was on her way.
"A chance to play and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself that way, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was removed the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we are confident we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this championship want to hear.
During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this victory coming after success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a global event as leader.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.