Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, 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 complete their first ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their hitters to hold a record if not provided the chance.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
Whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Some will argue the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the challenge 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 predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it has been a frustrating experience because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," said Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit kick in and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
A single came off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was on her way.
"An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun that way, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was out the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the confidence to do that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can do it."
That comment will be the last rival teams at this tournament need to hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this triumph coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at an important competition.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
But while she afterwards confessed those injuries have postponed plans to retire, this tournament is likely to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as skipper.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.