The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The highest peaks have already been conquered.
This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.
The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a side that has achieved everything.
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That it took as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batsmen to possess a record if never given the possibility.
In the end, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to deliver her newest gem.
Originally famous as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.
A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the run of success.
That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not fail again.
Whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Certain people claim 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 considerably tougher to anticipate.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this innings was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've observed me in training, it has been a disappointing period because it appeared I've had no rhythm completely," stated Healy.
"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts take over and you just lock into the match."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her key asset - and a priceless quality in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the right-hander was underway.
"The possibility to take the field and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.
When she was dismissed her side required another 66 at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.
"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, if we do, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the last Australia's opponents at this tournament should hear.
Over the past five days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one stage.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated through the pain.
Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have postponed consideration of ending her career, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as leader.
Victory in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.