The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.

It's difficult for Australia to break new ground.

The top summits have already been conquered.

We're talking about the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has won it all.

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It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if not afforded the opportunity.

Ultimately, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.

Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her bow and seven world titles have followed from 10 efforts across formats.

The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.

That loss "drove 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 declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not fail again.

The question of whether this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display can be debated.

Many contend the case for championship match pressure. Others can counter with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What is certain is this ton was considerably tougher to see coming.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance was preceded by six games 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 was a challenging time because it seemed I lacked timing at all," said Healy.

"Yet the moment you take the field, your fighting spirit take over and you completely engage with the contest."

Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.

One run resulted off the opening delivery and from there the batsman was on her way.

"A chance to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, sort of got me going," stated Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.

By the time she was dismissed Australia needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the belief to do that now," continued Healy.

"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, should it happen, we are confident we can do it."

Those words will be the final thing competing nations at this tournament need to hear.

In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.

It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at an important competition.

So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing with the discomfort.

But while she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.

Victory in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.