Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It is hard for their batters to hold a record if not afforded the opportunity.
In the end, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to produce her newest gem.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her bow and seven world titles have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fail again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Many contend the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as 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.
"For those following me in the nets, it was a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit take over and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there the batsman was underway.
"An opportunity to play and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
Once she was out her side needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the assurance to do that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if necessary, we are confident we can achieve it."
These statements will be the last Australia's opponents at this tournament want to hear.
In recent days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this victory succeeding success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played with the discomfort.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have postponed plans to retire, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as captain.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.