Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available 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 exceeding 300, taking back their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's challenging for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the opportunity.
Finally, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to create 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 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her bow and seven world titles have followed from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
If this latest epic knock topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was far harder to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in training, it has been a disappointing period because it seemed I lacked timing at all," stated Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your competitive instincts activate and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the batsman was underway.
"An opportunity to take the field and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the assurance to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if necessary, we are confident we can do it."
That comment will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.
During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a significant event.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wished she had played through the pain.
But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as skipper.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.