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 greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It is hard for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the chance.
In the end, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her debut and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
The question of whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Many contend the reasoning behind final game tension. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in training, it was a frustrating experience because it seemed I lacked timing completely," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
One run resulted off the opening delivery and from there Healy was in motion.
"The possibility to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.
Once she was out the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if necessary, we know we can succeed."
Those words will be the last rival teams at this World Cup should hear.
During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this victory coming after victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing through the pain.
However although she afterwards confessed those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this championship is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as skipper.
Victory in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.