Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have long been mastered.
This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are all that remain for a side that has achieved everything.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if never given the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia 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 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven world titles have followed from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
If this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Some will argue the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it has been a frustrating experience because I feel like I lacked timing whatsoever," said Healy.
"But once you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain 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 every game, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and after that the batsman was underway.
"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
By the time she was out her side needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the confidence to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."
Those words will be the last rival teams at this World Cup need to hear.
In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this success succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she regretted not playing with the discomfort.
Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as captain.
Success in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.
