The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and once went nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a side that has achieved everything.
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That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if not afforded the chance.
Ultimately, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to produce her newest gem.
Then best known as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her bow and seven international trophies have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI 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 come up short.
If this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort can be debated.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Others can counter with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was much more difficult to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this performance came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," commented Healy.
"However when you take the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and after that the batsman was on her way.
"The possibility to play and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was removed the team needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the confidence to do that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we know we can achieve it."
These statements will be the final thing rival teams at this World Cup should hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this triumph succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
During that phase they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing through the pain.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have pushed back plans to retire, this World Cup is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as captain.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.