Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batsmen to maintain a record if not afforded the possibility.
In the end, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort can be debated.
Some will argue the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this knock came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in training, it's been a disappointing period because it appeared I've had no rhythm at all," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and after that the batsman was underway.
"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was removed Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the assurance to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if we do, we are confident we can achieve it."
Those words will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup need to hear.
In recent days a feeling they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
It was at that stage they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played with the discomfort.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those injuries have delayed thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as captain.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.