Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
We're talking about the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their batsmen to maintain a record if never given the opportunity.
In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to produce her newest gem.
Then best known as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
If this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Many contend the reasoning behind final game tension. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this performance followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because it seemed my form was missing at all," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature activate and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her great strength - and a priceless quality in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, 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 merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was removed Australia required another 66 at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the confidence to do that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we are confident we can achieve it."
That comment will be the last Australia's opponents at this championship need to hear.
During the last week a belief they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory coming after success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
But while she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is likely to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as skipper.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.