Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

It's difficult for the Australian squad to set fresh records.

The greatest achievements have already been conquered.

This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has won it all.

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It needed until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.

It's difficult for their batters to hold a record if never given the opportunity.

Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to create her newest gem.

Then best known as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have resulted from 10 tries across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.

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

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fail again.

If this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.

Certain people claim the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What's clear is this ton was much more difficult to anticipate.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this performance was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've been watching me in the nets, it was a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing whatsoever," commented Healy.

"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts take over and you completely engage with the competition."

Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.

A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was underway.

"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," stated Healy.

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

When she was out the team needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the confidence to do that now," added Healy.

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

Those words will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this World Cup want to hear.

During the last week a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this victory succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.

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

It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a significant event.

So great is her will, she later said she regretted not playing despite the injury.

However although she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have delayed thoughts of retirement, this tournament is anticipated as her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as captain.

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