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

It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The highest peaks have already been conquered.

This is the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the peak baggers, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.

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It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.

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

Finally, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.

Initially recognized as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her bow and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.

That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not come up short.

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

Certain people claim the case for championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's clear is this century was far harder to anticipate.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've been watching me in the nets, it was a challenging time because it appeared I lacked timing at all," stated Healy.

"But once you step out on the field, your fighting spirit activate and you completely engage with the match."

Healy's competitiveness has always been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.

A single was taken off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was in motion.

"An opportunity to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," said Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.

Once she was out Australia needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.

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

"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we are confident we can succeed."

These statements will be the last rival teams at this championship want to hear.

In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory following win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.

It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at a significant event.

Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing with the discomfort.

But while she afterwards confessed those injuries have postponed consideration of ending her career, this championship is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as leader.

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