The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have long been mastered.
We're talking about the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the record chasers, are what's still available for a squad 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 achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their batsmen to possess a record if not afforded the opportunity.
In the end, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to create her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted 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 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fail again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Many contend the argument supporting championship match pressure. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was far harder to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance followed six innings 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 I feel like I lacked timing completely," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts take over and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was in motion.
"A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was out Australia needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup need to hear.
In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this success following win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
During that phase they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this championship is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as captain.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.
