The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.

The highest peaks have long been mastered.

This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and once went over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a side that has accomplished all there is.

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It needed up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.

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

In the end, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.

Initially recognized as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 championship victory happened three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have come from 10 efforts across formats.

The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.

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

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fail again.

If this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.

Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's definite is this ton was far harder to predict.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"For those following me in the nets, it's been a disappointing period because it appeared I lacked timing completely," said Healy.

"However when you step out on the field, your competitive instincts take over and you simply focus on the contest."

Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.

One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was in motion.

"The possibility to play and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the global tournament - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.

By the time she was out Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.

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

"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, should it happen, we believe we can succeed."

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

Over the past five days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this triumph following win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.

During that phase they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at an important competition.

So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played through the pain.

However although she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have postponed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as leader.

Success in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.