The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowlers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It's difficult for their hitters to maintain a record if never given the opportunity.
In the end, the result of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her newest gem.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was considerably tougher to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this innings was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it has been a frustrating experience because it seemed my form was missing at all," commented Healy.
"However when you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the batsman was on her way.
"An opportunity to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
By the time she was out her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the belief to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, should it happen, we are confident we can do it."
Those words will be the last competing nations at this World Cup should hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this victory succeeding win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as captain.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.