The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.

It's a challenge for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.

The top summits have been successfully scaled.

This is the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, targeted by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a team that has won it all.

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That it took as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.

It is hard for their hitters to hold a record if never given the opportunity.

Ultimately, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a platform to deliver her most recent brilliance.

Initially recognized as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.

The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the run of success.

That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.

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

Certain people claim the reasoning behind 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 definite is this century was considerably tougher to anticipate.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this innings was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've been watching me in training, it's been a frustrating experience because it seemed my form was missing completely," commented Healy.

"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts take over and you completely engage with the contest."

Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.

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

"An opportunity to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.

Once she was dismissed the team needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.

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

"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, if we do, we believe we can do it."

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

Over the past five days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has become more firm - this triumph coming after win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.

During that phase they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the first time at a major tournament.

So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated despite the injury.

Yet even as she afterwards confessed those physical issues have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as skipper.

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