The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if not provided the possibility.
In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to create 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 from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her debut and seven international trophies have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.
Certain people claim the argument supporting championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this performance came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in training, it was a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was underway.
"The possibility to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we know we can do it."
That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this championship need to hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this victory following victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth 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 - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
However although she later admitted those physical issues have delayed plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as skipper.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.