The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for Australia to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if never given the opportunity.
In the end, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to deliver her newest gem.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it's been a challenging time because it seemed I've had no rhythm completely," said Healy.
"However when you step out on the field, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and a priceless quality in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and after that the right-hander was underway.
"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
When she was out Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the belief to do that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can do it."
Those words will be the final thing competing nations at this tournament should hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this triumph following win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she later said she wished she had played with the discomfort.
However although she later admitted those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as captain.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.