The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
The top summits have already been conquered.
We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and once went nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It's difficult for their batters to hold a record if not provided the chance.
Finally, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to create her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her bow and seven world titles have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Certain people claim the case for final game tension. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was far harder to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while 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 been watching me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing completely," said Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive nature kick in and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single came off the opening delivery and after that Healy was in motion.
"An opportunity to go out there and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was out Australia needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can achieve it."
Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this championship should hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
However although she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.