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

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

The highest peaks have long been mastered.

We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available for a squad that has won it all.

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It needed as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.

It's challenging for their hitters to hold a record if never given the opportunity.

In the end, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to deliver her latest masterpiece.

Originally famous as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have come from 10 efforts across formats.

The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.

That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.

The question of whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort is debatable.

Certain people claim the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's clear is this ton was much more difficult to see coming.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"For those following me in training, it has been a frustrating experience because it appeared I've had no rhythm at all," commented Healy.

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

Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.

A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from that point the batsman was on her way.

"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and merely enjoy the moment 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 ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.

When she was removed her side needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"To chase 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, should it happen, we know we can succeed."

These statements will be the last rival teams at this tournament need to hear.

Over the past five days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this success succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one point.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.

It was at that stage they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.

So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated despite the injury.

But while she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as leader.

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