Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

It's difficult for Australia to set fresh records.

The greatest achievements have long been mastered.

We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has won it all.

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It needed until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century.

It's difficult for their batsmen to possess a record if not provided the opportunity.

Finally, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to deliver her most recent brilliance.

Originally famous as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 tries across formats.

The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.

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

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

The question of whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display can be debated.

Some will argue the case for championship match pressure. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've been watching me in training, it was a disappointing period because it appeared I've had no rhythm whatsoever," commented Healy.

"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive nature activate and you completely engage with the match."

Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.

One run resulted off the opening delivery and from that point the batsman was on her way.

"A chance to play and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 balls - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.

By the time she was dismissed her side needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the assurance to do that now," added Healy.

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

Those words will be the last rival teams at this championship should hear.

Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has grown stronger - this success following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.

It was at that stage they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at a major tournament.

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

Yet even as she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have delayed consideration of ending her career, this championship is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as skipper.

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