Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the peak baggers, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.
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It needed as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It is hard for their hitters to maintain a record if not afforded the chance.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her bow and seven global championships have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
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 made sure her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Some will argue the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this performance came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," said Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts activate and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and after that the right-hander was on her way.
"An opportunity to play and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
Once she was removed the team needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing rival teams at this World Cup want to hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
During that phase they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played with the discomfort.
Yet even as she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as skipper.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.