Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

It's difficult for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.

The top summits have already been conquered.

This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a squad that has achieved everything.

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That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.

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

In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to deliver her most recent brilliance.

Initially recognized as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI 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 debut and seven international trophies have followed from 10 tries 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 "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fall short again.

Whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Some will argue the reasoning behind final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's clear is this century was far harder to see coming.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing completely," stated Healy.

"But once you step out on the field, your competitive nature kick in and you completely engage with the competition."

Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.

A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from there Healy was underway.

"A chance to play and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun that way, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.

When she was removed Australia required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now requiring a leisurely stroll.

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

"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we know we can do it."

That comment will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this tournament want to hear.

During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this triumph coming after win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one stage.

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

During that phase they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.

So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wished she had played with the discomfort.

However although she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this championship is likely to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.

Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.