The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.

It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.

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

The remaining milestones, targeted by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.

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That it took as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.

It is hard for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the possibility.

In the end, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform to create her newest gem.

Initially recognized as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the successful run.

That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 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 surpassed that earlier display can be debated.

Certain people claim the argument supporting championship match pressure. Others can counter with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What is certain is this hundred was much more difficult to anticipate.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this performance was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"For those following me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.

"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the contest."

Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.

One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there the right-hander was in motion.

"An opportunity to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.

By the time she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.

"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.

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

That comment will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.

During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this victory following victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.

During that phase they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at an important competition.

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

Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have pushed back plans to retire, this championship is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as leader.

Triumph in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.