Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

It's difficult for Australia to break new ground.

The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.

We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, targeted by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has achieved everything.

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That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.

It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if never given the chance.

Ultimately, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to deliver her most recent brilliance.

Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her debut and seven global championships have followed from 10 tries across formats.

The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the winning streak.

That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fail again.

If this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.

Many contend the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's clear is this hundred was considerably tougher to predict.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this innings came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.

"For those following me in practice sessions, it has been a frustrating experience because I feel like my form was missing completely," commented Healy.

"However when you step out on the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you just lock into the match."

Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.

One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and after that Healy was in motion.

"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.

Once she was out her side needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.

"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the assurance to accomplish that now," continued Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if we do, we know we can succeed."

Those words will be the last Australia's opponents at this tournament need to hear.

During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.

It was in the semi-finals they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.

Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.

But while she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as skipper.

Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.