The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
The top summits have already been conquered.
This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a side that has won it all.
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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, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their hitters to hold a record if never given the opportunity.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her newest gem.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her debut and seven world titles have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not come up short.
If this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Some will argue the case for final game tension. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this innings followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in training, it was a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit kick in and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to 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 after that the batsman was on her way.
"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was dismissed her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if necessary, we know we can succeed."
Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
However although she later admitted those physical issues have postponed plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as skipper.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.