The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, those for the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a side that has won it all.
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It needed as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.
It's challenging for their batters to possess a record if not provided the opportunity.
Ultimately, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance to deliver her latest masterpiece.
Initially recognized as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies 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 "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She ensured her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was far harder to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it has been a frustrating experience because it seemed I've had no rhythm whatsoever," said Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic 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, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
A single came off the opening delivery and from that point the batsman was in motion.
"A chance to go out there and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was out her side needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the belief to achieve that now," added Healy.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if we do, we are confident we can achieve it."
That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this World Cup want to hear.
In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this triumph following win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.
It was at that stage they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.
So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing through the pain.
However although she afterwards confessed those physical issues have delayed plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as leader.
Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.
