The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have long been mastered.
This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the possibility.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to produce her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former 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 seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her first appearance and seven global championships 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 successful run.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not come up short.
If this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort can be debated.
Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in training, it's been a challenging time because it seemed my form was missing completely," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts take over and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the right-hander was on her way.
"A chance to take the field and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun that way, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
By the time she was out the team required another 66 at one run per ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we believe we can achieve it."
Those words will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this championship need to hear.
In recent days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this victory coming after success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wished she had played despite the injury.
However although she later admitted those injuries have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as skipper.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.