Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The top summits have already been conquered.
We're talking about the team that has won 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 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 over 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their hitters to hold a record if not provided the possibility.
Finally, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to create her newest gem.
Then best known as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Many contend the case for the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was considerably tougher to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it's been a disappointing period because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive nature activate and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and from that point the batsman was underway.
"An opportunity to play and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was out her side needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if we do, we know we can succeed."
Those words will be the last rival teams at this tournament should hear.
During the last week a sense they will win from any position has become more firm - this triumph following win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 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 place may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as skipper.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.