Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a side 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, regaining their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.
It is hard for their batsmen to maintain a record if never given the possibility.
In the end, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her bow and seven global championships have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not fall short again.
If this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Many contend the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this innings came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in training, it's been a disappointing period because it appeared my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you completely engage with the match."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was underway.
"An opportunity to go out there and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
When she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we are confident we can do it."
These statements will be the last competing nations at this World Cup need to hear.
In recent days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this success succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a significant event.
Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a global event as skipper.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.