Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.

It's a challenge for the Australian squad to set fresh records.

The top summits have long been mastered.

We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more 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 all that remain for a team 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, regaining their record for the largest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a testament to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.

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

Ultimately, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a chance to produce her latest masterpiece.

Initially recognized as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven global championships have followed from 10 tries across formats.

The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the winning streak.

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

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She made sure her country would not come up short.

Whether this latest epic knock topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.

Certain people claim the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's definite is this hundred was far harder to predict.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she led the batting statistics, but this innings followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've been watching me in training, it's been a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm whatsoever," said Healy.

"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive nature kick in and you simply focus on the competition."

Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and a priceless quality in succeeding 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 each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.

A single was taken off the opening delivery and from there the batsman was in motion.

"An opportunity to take the field and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her quickest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.

When she was dismissed the team needed 66 more at one run per ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Chasing 330 runs is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the belief to do that now," added Healy.

"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we know we can do it."

Those words will be the final thing Australia's opponents at this tournament should hear.

During the last week a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this victory following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.

During that phase they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a significant event.

So great is her will, she later said she wished she had played with the discomfort.

Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.

Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.