The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has achieved everything.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their batters to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity.
In the end, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her newest gem.
Then best known as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her debut and seven world titles have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
If this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Many contend the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was far harder to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this performance followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it's been a disappointing period because it appeared my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her great strength - and a priceless quality in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and after that Healy was on her way.
"An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was out Australia needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can achieve it."
These statements will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this World Cup should hear.
In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played with the discomfort.
However although she later admitted those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as skipper.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.