Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a team that has won it all.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their hitters to maintain a record if not provided the chance.
In the end, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have come from 10 efforts across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Many contend the case for championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was far harder to predict.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this knock followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it was a disappointing period because it appeared I lacked timing completely," stated Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your competitive instincts take over and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and after that the batsman was in motion.
"A chance to play and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.
By the time she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if necessary, we are confident we can do it."
Those words will be the last rival teams at this championship need to hear.
In recent days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory following victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a significant event.
So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wished she had played with the discomfort.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is expected to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a global event as leader.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.
