Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, those for the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has achieved everything.
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It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batters to possess a record if not provided the opportunity.
Finally, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her debut and seven international trophies have come from 10 tries across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to see coming.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this knock came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in training, it's been a challenging time because it appeared my form was missing whatsoever," said Healy.
"However when you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her great strength - and a priceless quality in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and after that the batsman was underway.
"A chance to play 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 quickest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was removed Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we believe we can achieve it."
That comment will be the last rival teams at this World Cup need to hear.
In recent days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph following victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wished she had played through the pain.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those physical issues have delayed consideration of ending her career, this championship is likely to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as leader.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.