Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.
It's tough for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.
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 nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a side that has accomplished all there is.
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It needed as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the chance.
In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance to create her newest gem.
Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have come from 10 tries across formats.
The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.
That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.
The question of whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Many contend the argument supporting championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was far harder to see coming.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.
"For those following me in practice sessions, it was a frustrating experience because it appeared I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"But once you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the match."
Healy's competitiveness has always been her great strength - and a priceless quality in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.
One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and after that the right-hander was on her way.
"The possibility to take the field and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
Once she was out Australia required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.
"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the confidence to achieve that now," stated Healy further.
"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if necessary, we believe we can achieve it."
These statements will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.
During the last week a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this success coming after success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one point.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.
So great is her will, she later said she regretted not playing despite the injury.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as skipper.
Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.