The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for Australia to break new ground.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the peak baggers, are what's still available for a side that has achieved everything.
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That it took until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their hitters to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity.
Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to create her latest masterpiece.
Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her first appearance 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 defeat by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
Whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Some might respond with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was far harder to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in the nets, it was a challenging time because I feel like I lacked timing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts kick in and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
A single came off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was underway.
"The possibility to play and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was removed Australia needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if we do, we know we can achieve it."
Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this World Cup need to hear.
During the last week a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.
During that phase they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wished she had played with the discomfort.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have delayed consideration of ending her career, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as captain.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.