The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for Australia to break new ground.
The top summits have long been mastered.
We're talking about the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It is hard for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the chance.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her newest gem.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her bow and seven international trophies have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fail again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it has been a disappointing period because it appeared I lacked timing completely," stated Healy.
"However when you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and a priceless quality in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and after that Healy was in motion.
"The possibility to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
Once she was dismissed the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can do it."
That comment will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this World Cup should hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
But while she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.