The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are the only things left for a team that has achieved everything.
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That it took as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It is hard for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the possibility.
Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to deliver her newest gem.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 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 exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because I feel like I lacked timing completely," commented Healy.
"But once you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there the batsman was underway.
"An opportunity to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.
By the time she was removed her side needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the confidence to do that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if we do, we know we can achieve it."
These statements will be the last competing nations at this tournament need to hear.
During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a global event as captain.
Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.