Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for Australia to break new ground.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batsmen to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity.
Finally, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her debut and seven global championships have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
If this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Many contend the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in the nets, it was a disappointing period because I feel like I've had no rhythm at all," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was underway.
"A chance to play and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
Once she was removed the team needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we know we can succeed."
These statements will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.
Over the past five days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this victory coming after win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played despite the injury.
Yet even as she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a global event as skipper.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.