Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.

The highest peaks have long been mastered.

This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a squad that has accomplished all there is.

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The fact it required as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over five decades.

It's difficult for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the opportunity.

Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a chance to create her most recent brilliance.

Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over 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 bow and seven global championships have followed from 10 efforts across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the run of success.

That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not fail again.

If this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort can be debated.

Some will argue the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's clear is this century was much more difficult to see coming.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this innings was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a frustrating experience because it seemed my form was missing at all," said Healy.

"However when you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you just lock into the contest."

Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.

A single came off the bowler's initial ball and after that Healy was in motion.

"The possibility to take the field and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," commented Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.

Once she was removed the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

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

"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can achieve it."

That comment will be the last Australia's opponents at this championship need to hear.

In recent days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this success following win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.

During that phase they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at an important competition.

Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played despite the injury.

However although she afterwards confessed those injuries have delayed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as captain.

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