Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The top summits have long been mastered.
We're talking about the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the peak baggers, are the only things left for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their batters to hold a record if not provided the possibility.
Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to create her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her bow and seven global championships have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
If this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display can be debated.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this ton was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this innings was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it's been a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm whatsoever," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature kick in and you completely engage with the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her key asset - and a priceless quality in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the batsman was on her way.
"The possibility to go out there and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was removed the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the belief to do that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can succeed."
Those words will be the last Australia's opponents at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this success succeeding success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at an important competition.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those injuries have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as captain.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.