The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
The top summits have long been mastered.
We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and once went over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a side that has won it all.
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It needed up to Sunday's victory 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, honestly, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their hitters to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to produce her newest gem.
Then best known as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort is debatable.
Many contend the reasoning behind final game tension. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, 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 training, it has been a frustrating experience because it seemed my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit kick in and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there Healy was underway.
"An opportunity to take the field and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was out Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the belief to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, should it happen, we are confident we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing rival teams at this World Cup want to hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with 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 exited 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 guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing through the pain.
But while she later admitted those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as skipper.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.