Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their batsmen to possess a record if not afforded the chance.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her newest gem.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven international trophies have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Certain people claim the case for final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was considerably tougher to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in training, it has been a frustrating experience because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her key asset - and a priceless quality in taking over from 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 every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and from that point the right-hander was on her way.
"The possibility to play and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was removed her side needed 66 more at run per delivery - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the confidence to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if we do, we know we can succeed."
Those words will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this tournament should hear.
During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wished she had played despite the injury.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a global event as captain.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.