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

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

The top summits have long been mastered.

This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, targeted by the peak baggers, are all that remain for a team 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 accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the chance.

Ultimately, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to create her most recent brilliance.

Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 World Cup win came three months after her bow and seven world titles have followed from 10 efforts across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the successful run.

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

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

The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Some might respond with the test that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

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

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it was a challenging time because it appeared I've had no rhythm at all," said Healy.

"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive nature kick in and you simply focus on the match."

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

She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.

A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and after that the right-hander was in motion.

"An opportunity to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun that way, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.

Once she was out the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," continued Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if we do, we know we can do it."

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

During the last week a belief they will win from any position has only strengthened - this victory succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.

It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.

So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wished she had played despite the injury.

But while she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as skipper.

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