Australia 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 top summits have long been mastered.
We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their hitters to hold a record if not provided the chance.
Finally, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.
If this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage 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 not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in the nets, it's been a challenging time because it seemed my form was missing whatsoever," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts take over and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and from there the right-hander was in motion.
"An opportunity to go out there and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was removed Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the assurance to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if we do, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this tournament need to hear.
During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this success following success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they were eliminated from the previous 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 captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.
So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
But while she later admitted those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as leader.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.