Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.

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

The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.

This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, targeted by the record chasers, are the only things left for a side that has won it all.

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It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.

It's difficult for their hitters to maintain a record if not afforded the opportunity.

Ultimately, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to deliver her newest gem.

Originally famous as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.

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

The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the successful run.

That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.

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

The question of whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.

Many contend the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

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

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"For those following me in training, it has been a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," commented Healy.

"However when you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you completely engage with the match."

Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her key asset - and a priceless quality in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.

A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from there Healy was underway.

"An opportunity to play and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun that way, sort of got me going," commented Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.

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

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

"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can do it."

That comment will be the final thing rival teams at this championship need to hear.

In recent days a belief they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this success succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.

It was at that stage they were eliminated from the previous 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 initial instance at an important competition.

So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated despite the injury.

However although she later admitted those injuries have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a global event as skipper.

Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.