Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their hitters to maintain a record if not afforded the chance.
In the end, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to produce her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her debut and seven international trophies have followed from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not come up short.
If this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Many contend the argument supporting final game tension. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was far harder to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this knock was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it's been a frustrating experience because it seemed I lacked timing completely," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you completely engage with the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and from there the right-hander was in motion.
"The possibility to play and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was dismissed the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the assurance to achieve that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can achieve it."
That comment will be the final thing rival teams at this World Cup want to hear.
In recent days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at an important competition.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.
However although she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this tournament is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a global event as skipper.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.