The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has achieved everything.
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The fact it required until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batters to possess a record if not provided the opportunity.
Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her bow and seven world titles have come from 10 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," 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 come up short.
Whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable.
Some will argue the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this performance followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it was a frustrating experience because I feel like I lacked timing whatsoever," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive nature kick in and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was in motion.
"A chance to take the field and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was removed her side required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we believe we can achieve it."
That comment will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament need to hear.
During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this success following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
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 well be secure.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wished she had played despite the injury.
Yet even as she later admitted those injuries have delayed plans to retire, this World Cup is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as leader.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.
