Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The top summits have already been conquered.
We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are all that remain for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over five decades.
It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the opportunity.
In the end, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to produce her newest gem.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not come up short.
If this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was considerably tougher to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in training, it was a frustrating experience because it appeared I've had no rhythm whatsoever," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts kick in and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there the batsman was on her way.
"The possibility to play and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
By the time she was dismissed her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if we do, we know we can do it."
That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this World Cup need to hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this victory following victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
But while she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is likely to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a global event as leader.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.