Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.
The top summits have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a team that has won it all.
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It needed until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It's challenging for their batters to maintain a record if not provided the chance.
Ultimately, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to create her newest gem.
Then best known as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the run of success.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.
If this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort can be debated.
Some will argue the argument supporting final game tension. 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 hundred was much more difficult to anticipate.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this performance followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it has been a frustrating experience because it appeared I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"However when you step out on the field, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.
A single came off the opening delivery and from that point the batsman was underway.
"The possibility to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.
Once she was dismissed the team required another 66 at one run per ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the assurance to accomplish that now," continued Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if we do, we are confident we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing rival teams at this World Cup want to hear.
During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this success coming after victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So strong is her resolve, she later said she wished she had played with the discomfort.
However although she later admitted those physical issues have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.