The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

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

The top summits have already been conquered.

We're talking about the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, those for the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has accomplished all there is.

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The fact it required until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.

It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if never given the chance.

Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to produce her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 World Cup win came three months after her debut and seven international trophies have come from 10 tries across formats.

The tough gloveman was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.

That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not come up short.

Whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display can be debated.

Many contend the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's definite is this century was considerably tougher to predict.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this innings was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.

"For those following me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because it appeared my form was missing completely," said Healy.

"But once you step out on the field, your fighting spirit take over and you completely engage with the match."

Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

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

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

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

She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 as she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.

By the time she was removed the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.

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

"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if we do, we know we can succeed."

That comment will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this tournament should hear.

During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this success coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.

It was in the semi-finals they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a significant event.

So great is her will, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing through the pain.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as captain.

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