Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a team that has won it all.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest 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 batters to hold a record if not provided the chance.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to produce her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "pushed 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 declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
If this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was considerably tougher to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing whatsoever," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive nature kick in and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent 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 opening delivery and from that point Healy was in motion.
"A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
Once she was out the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the assurance to do that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we know we can achieve it."
That comment will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this championship need to hear.
During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this success coming after success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they left last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as leader.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.