Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, 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 exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's challenging for their hitters to maintain a record if never given the chance.
Finally, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to produce her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her bow and seven global championships have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Many contend the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was far harder to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in the nets, it was a disappointing period because it seemed my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her key asset - and a priceless quality in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and after that Healy was in motion.
"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
Once she was removed the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad 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 succeed."
Those words will be the last Australia's opponents at this tournament want to hear.
During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this victory coming after win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing despite the injury.
However although she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this championship is likely to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as captain.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.