Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained 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 accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if not afforded the possibility.
In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to deliver her newest gem.
Originally famous as the young family member 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 from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
If this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated.
Some will argue the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in the nets, it was a disappointing period because it appeared I've had no rhythm at all," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts activate and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and after that the batsman was underway.
"The possibility to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
By the time she was out the team needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if we do, we are confident we can succeed."
Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this tournament want to hear.
Over the past five days a belief they will win from any position has grown stronger - this victory coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter 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 subsequently stated she wished she had played despite the injury.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as skipper.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.