Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the record chasers, are all that remain for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's difficult for their batters to hold a record if never given the chance.
Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed 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 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the case for championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was far harder to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this knock was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it's been a challenging time because it appeared I've had no rhythm completely," said Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts activate and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from there the batsman was on her way.
"An opportunity to go out there and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was out her side needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this World Cup need to hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this victory following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
It was at that stage they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as skipper.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.