The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has achieved everything.
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It needed until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It is hard for their hitters to possess a record if not afforded the chance.
Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to create her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
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 made sure her country would not fail again.
Whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Certain people claim the argument supporting championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What is certain is this hundred was considerably tougher to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this knock was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing completely," said Healy.
"However when you step out on the field, your competitive nature kick in and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the right-hander was underway.
"The possibility to take the field and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
Once she was out Australia needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the confidence to do that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we are confident we can succeed."
These statements will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this World Cup need to hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this triumph following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.
During that phase they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have delayed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as captain.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.