The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a side that has achieved everything.
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That it took until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if never given the opportunity.
In the end, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
If this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Many contend the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this knock came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed my form was missing completely," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was on her way.
"An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was removed the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the confidence to do that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if necessary, we know we can do it."
That comment will be the last Australia's opponents at this championship should hear.
During the last week a sense they will win from any position has become more firm - this success succeeding success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage 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.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wished she had played through the pain.
However although she later admitted those injuries have postponed plans to retire, this championship is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as leader.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.