The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.

It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.

The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.

We're talking about the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and once went over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, targeted by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a squad 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 achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over five decades.

It is hard for their hitters to maintain a record if not afforded the chance.

In the end, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 championship victory came three months after her debut and seven global championships have come from 10 efforts across formats.

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

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

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fall short again.

Whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.

Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What is certain is this century was considerably tougher to predict.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've observed me in the nets, it was a disappointing period because it seemed I've had no rhythm completely," commented Healy.

"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive nature kick in and you completely engage with the match."

Healy's fighting spirit has always been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.

A single was taken off the opening delivery and from there Healy was on her way.

"An opportunity to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun that way, sort of got me going," stated Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.

Once she was dismissed her side required another 66 at run per delivery - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the confidence to do that now," stated Healy further.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we know we can achieve it."

Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this World Cup want to hear.

In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this success following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.

It was in the semi-finals they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.

So great is her will, she later said she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.

However although she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have delayed plans to retire, this tournament is expected to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.

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