The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.
It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.
The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.
We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.
The alternative records, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has achieved everything.
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It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.
It is hard for their hitters to maintain a record if never given the opportunity.
In the end, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.
Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.
A T20 championship victory happened three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have come from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.
That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.
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 fail again.
If this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.
Certain people claim the reasoning behind final game tension. Some might respond with the test that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What is certain is this century was much more difficult to predict.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this performance followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.
"If you've been watching me in the nets, it has been a disappointing period because I feel like I lacked timing whatsoever," commented Healy.
"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.
She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.
A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was in motion.
"An opportunity to play and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.
She reached fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.
When she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," stated Healy further.
"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we know we can succeed."
These statements will be the last competing nations at this tournament want to hear.
During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this victory succeeding win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one point.
Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.
It was at that stage they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.
So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.
However although she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as captain.
Success in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.