Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has won it all.
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It needed until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batsmen to possess a record if not afforded the chance.
In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her newest gem.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her debut and seven world titles have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
If this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Many contend the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this knock followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing whatsoever," said Healy.
"However when you step out on the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there the batsman was in motion.
"An opportunity to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was dismissed her side required another 66 at run per delivery - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the assurance to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if we do, we are confident we can achieve it."
These statements will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this tournament should hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing through the pain.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have postponed plans to retire, this World Cup is anticipated as her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a global event as skipper.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.
