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

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

The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.

This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, those for the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.

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The fact it required up to Sunday's success 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 testament to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if not provided the opportunity.

In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.

Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her bow and seven world titles have followed from 10 attempts across formats.

The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.

That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.

The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort can be debated.

Many contend the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this innings came after six matches in India since the start of last month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've observed me in the nets, it's been a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm whatsoever," stated Healy.

"But once you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you simply focus on the contest."

Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.

One run resulted off the opening delivery and from there the batsman was on her way.

"An opportunity to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.

Once she was removed the team required another 66 at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the confidence to do that now," added Healy.

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

That comment will be the last rival teams at this tournament want to hear.

Over the past five days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory succeeding win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.

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

It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.

So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have delayed consideration of ending her career, this championship is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as skipper.

Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.