Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the peak baggers, are the only things left for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's challenging for their batsmen to maintain a record if not afforded the chance.
In the end, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to create her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her debut and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.
Some will argue the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was much more difficult to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this performance came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in training, it was a challenging time because it appeared my form was missing at all," stated Healy.
"But once you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and after that Healy was in motion.
"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was removed the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the assurance to do that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if necessary, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this tournament want to hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph following victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
During that phase they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wished she had played through the pain.
But while she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is likely to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as captain.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.