The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for Australia to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went over three 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 biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's difficult for their hitters to possess a record if not provided the opportunity.
Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her bow and seven international trophies have come from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.
Some will argue the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase 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 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this innings was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," stated Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single came off the opening delivery and from that point the batsman was in motion.
"An opportunity to play and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was dismissed the team needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can do it."
These statements will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this championship want to hear.
During the last week a feeling they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this triumph succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.
During that phase they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wished she had played despite the injury.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have delayed plans to retire, this tournament is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over 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.