The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It is hard for their batsmen to maintain a record if not provided the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her bow and seven world titles have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated.
Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this innings came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it was a challenging time because it appeared my form was missing at all," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from there the batsman was on her way.
"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was dismissed her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if necessary, we believe we can achieve it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this championship need to hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this success coming after success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter 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 were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.
But while she later admitted those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a global event as skipper.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.