The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are all that remain for a team that has won it all.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the chance.
Finally, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her debut and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.
Certain people claim the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was far harder to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this knock followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed I lacked timing at all," said Healy.
"But once you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her great strength - and a priceless quality in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and after that the batsman was on her way.
"A chance to play and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun that way, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was out Australia required another 66 at one run per ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the assurance to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we are confident we can do it."
These statements will be the final thing rival teams at this championship need to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory coming after win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a significant event.
So great is her will, 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 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 captain.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.