Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the record chasers, are the only things left for a team that has achieved everything.
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It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their hitters to hold a record if never given the opportunity.
In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to produce her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her bow and seven international trophies have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper 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 rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
Whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Many contend the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Some might respond with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was far harder to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in the nets, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing at all," stated Healy.
"However when you take the field, your fighting spirit take over and you completely engage with 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 young fast bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and from that point the right-hander was underway.
"The possibility to take the field and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
When she was removed the team required another 66 at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the assurance to do that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if we do, we know we can do it."
Those words will be the last competing nations at this World Cup should hear.
During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this triumph coming after success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So great is her will, she later said she regretted not playing through the pain.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those injuries have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is expected to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as leader.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.
