The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

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

The greatest achievements have long been mastered.

We're talking about the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, those for the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.

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It needed as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowlers that have represented Australia over five decades.

It is hard for their batters to hold a record if never given the possibility.

In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her newest gem.

Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.

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

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

That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fall short again.

The question of whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display is debatable.

Many contend the reasoning behind the pressure of a final. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What is certain is this hundred was far harder to anticipate.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, 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 training, it has been a frustrating experience because it seemed I've had no rhythm whatsoever," commented Healy.

"But once you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the competition."

Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her key asset - 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, fallen to the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.

One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from there Healy was underway.

"The possibility to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.

Once she was removed her side required another 66 at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.

"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I am glad we have the belief to do that now," stated Healy further.

"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, should it happen, we believe we can succeed."

Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this World Cup want to hear.

In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this triumph succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten 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 - a game Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at an important competition.

Such is her determination, she later said she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.

However although she later admitted those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as captain.

Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.