Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a squad that has achieved everything.
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That it took until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batsmen to maintain a record if not afforded the possibility.
In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to create her newest gem.
Originally famous as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Many contend the argument supporting final game tension. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in training, it has been a disappointing period because it seemed I've had no rhythm completely," commented Healy.
"However when you step out on the field, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and from there the batsman was on her way.
"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
Once she was dismissed the team needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the belief to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if necessary, we believe we can do it."
These statements will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this championship want to hear.
During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this victory succeeding success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those injuries have delayed plans to retire, this championship is likely to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as skipper.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.