The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.

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

The highest peaks have already been conquered.

This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, those for the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a side that has won it all.

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The fact it required up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.

It is hard for their batters to hold a record if not provided the opportunity.

Ultimately, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a chance to deliver her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 championship victory happened three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have come from 10 efforts across formats.

The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.

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

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

The question of whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort can be debated.

Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

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

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it's been a frustrating experience because I feel like my form was missing at all," stated Healy.

"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive nature activate and you completely engage with the match."

Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and a priceless quality in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.

A single was taken off the opening delivery and from that point the right-hander was on her way.

"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.

Once she was dismissed Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I'm pleased we have the belief to accomplish that now," added Healy.

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

That comment will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.

During the last week a sense they will win from any position has only strengthened - this success coming after success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.

It was at that stage they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a major tournament.

So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wished she had played with the discomfort.

Yet even as she afterwards confessed those injuries have postponed plans to retire, this championship is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as captain.

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