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

It's a challenge for the Australian squad to break new ground.

The highest peaks have long been mastered.

This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are all that remain for a team that has achieved everything.

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It needed as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.

It's difficult for their batsmen to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity.

Finally, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her most recent brilliance.

Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.

A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have come from 10 tries across formats.

The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the run of success.

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

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.

If this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable.

Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

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

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this knock came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because it appeared my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.

"However when you step out on the field, your competitive nature activate and you just lock into the contest."

Healy's competitive nature has always been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.

One run resulted off the opening delivery and from there the batsman was underway.

"The possibility to play and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, sort of got me going," stated Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.

By the time she was out the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.

"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the belief to accomplish that now," added Healy.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if we do, we are confident we can do it."

That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this championship want to hear.

Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has grown stronger - this victory following victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.

It was at that stage they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a significant event.

Such is her determination, she later said she regretted not playing despite the injury.

However although she later admitted those injuries have delayed plans to retire, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as leader.

Victory in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.