The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.

It's a challenge for Australia to set fresh records.

The greatest achievements have long been mastered.

This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, targeted by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.

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That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win 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 tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over five decades.

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

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

Initially recognized as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 championship victory happened three months after her bow and seven global championships have resulted from 10 tries across formats.

The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.

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 championship match and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.

Whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display remains open for discussion.

Some will argue the reasoning behind final game tension. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What is certain is this hundred was far harder to see coming.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this innings was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.

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

"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you just lock into the match."

Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.

One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the batsman was in motion.

"An opportunity to go out there and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, kind of motivated me," said Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.

Once she was dismissed Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.

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

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

Those words will be the last competing nations at this World Cup need to hear.

In recent days a sense they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this victory succeeding win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.

It was in the semi-finals they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a major tournament.

Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played despite the injury.

However although she afterwards confessed those injuries have pushed back plans to retire, this World Cup is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as skipper.

Success in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.