The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their hitters to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity.
Ultimately, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to produce her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her bow and seven world titles have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort can be debated.
Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this performance was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it's been a frustrating experience because it appeared my form was missing completely," stated Healy.
"But once you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
A single came off the opening delivery and after that the right-hander was in motion.
"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
When she was removed her side needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we know we can do it."
Those words 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 victory following success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she later said she wished she had played through the pain.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back plans to retire, this championship is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as leader.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.