Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.

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

The highest peaks have already been conquered.

This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.

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That it took until Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over five decades.

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

In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a chance to deliver her most recent brilliance.

Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

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

The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the run of success.

That loss "pushed 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 championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not fail again.

If this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.

Many contend the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What is certain is this century was far harder to predict.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this performance followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

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

"However when you step out on the field, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the contest."

Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.

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

"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.

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

By the time she was out her side required another 66 at one run per ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.

"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the assurance to achieve that now," added Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, should it happen, we are confident we can achieve it."

That comment will be the ultimate 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 coming after win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may probably be guaranteed.

During that phase they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at an important competition.

So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wished she had played through the pain.

But while she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper.

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