Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's a challenge for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The top summits have already been conquered.
This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.
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That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's difficult for their hitters to hold a record if not afforded the possibility.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a chance to create her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory came 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 semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not come up short.
If this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.
Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was much more difficult to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this innings came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've observed me in training, it has been a disappointing period because it appeared I lacked timing completely," commented Healy.
"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive nature activate and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.
A single came off the opening delivery and from that point the batsman was in motion.
"The possibility to play and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun that way, sort of got me going," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.
By the time she was dismissed the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, should it happen, we are confident we can succeed."
These statements will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament need to hear.
During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this triumph coming after 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 ten days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing despite the injury.
Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as captain.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.