Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

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

The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.

This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a squad that has achieved everything.

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That it took as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.

It is hard for their batters to possess a record if not afforded the chance.

In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to deliver her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 attempts across formats.

The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.

That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fail again.

Whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.

Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What is certain is this century was much more difficult to anticipate.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this innings followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.

"For those following me in practice sessions, it has been a disappointing period because it seemed my form was missing whatsoever," said Healy.

"But once you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the match."

Healy's fighting spirit has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.

One run resulted off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was underway.

"An opportunity to take the field and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, sort of got me going," said Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.

Once she was dismissed the team required another 66 at one run per ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.

"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the assurance to accomplish that now," added Healy.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can do it."

That comment will be the last competing nations at this championship should hear.

Over the past five days a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this victory succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot 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 - a match Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a significant event.

So strong is her resolve, she later said she wished she had played despite the injury.

However although she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as leader.

Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.