The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.
The greatest achievements have already been conquered.
This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the pitchers that have represented Australia over five decades.
It's difficult for their batters to maintain a record if not afforded the opportunity.
In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to create her most recent brilliance.
Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her bow and seven global championships have resulted from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fail again.
Whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Many contend the reasoning behind final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.
What's definite is this century was far harder to see coming.
The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this performance followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"For those following me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because it seemed I lacked timing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the competition."
Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was on her way.
"The possibility to take the field and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
Once she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the confidence to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we believe we can achieve it."
That comment will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup need to hear.
In recent days a sense they will win from any position has only strengthened - this triumph following win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling 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 well be secure.
It was at that stage they left last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a major tournament.
Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
However although she later admitted those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as skipper.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.