The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
We're talking about the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the peak baggers, are all that remain for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It's difficult for their hitters to hold a record if not provided the chance.
Finally, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to create her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss 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 hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Some will argue the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this ton was much more difficult to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in training, it was a disappointing period because it appeared my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"But once you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was underway.
"The possibility to play and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
By the time she was dismissed the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, should it happen, we are confident we can achieve it."
These statements will be the final thing competing nations at this tournament should hear.
In recent days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this triumph coming after success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
It was at that stage they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as captain.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.