Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and once went nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.
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That it took until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if never given the possibility.
Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to produce her newest gem.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fail again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was considerably tougher to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this knock 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 been watching me in training, it's been a disappointing period because it appeared I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"But once you take the field, your competitive nature kick in and you just lock into the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there the batsman was in motion.
"An opportunity to play and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was dismissed the team needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the confidence to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if necessary, we are confident we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this triumph coming after win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they left last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have delayed plans to retire, this championship is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as captain.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.