The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.
The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are all that remain for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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That it took up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.
It's difficult for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the chance.
Finally, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to deliver her most recent brilliance.
Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.
A T20 World Cup win came three months after her debut and seven world titles have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.
At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not come up short.
The question of whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.
Some will argue the case for the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.
What's clear is this century was considerably tougher to predict.
The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this innings was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in training, it was a challenging time because it seemed I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.
"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts kick in and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the right-hander was underway.
"The possibility to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.
She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.
When she was out her side needed 66 more at one run per ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if we do, we know we can succeed."
That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this tournament need to hear.
In recent days a feeling they will win from any position has grown stronger - this triumph coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.
It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.
However although she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have delayed plans to retire, this World Cup is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as skipper.
Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.