Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The greatest achievements have already been conquered.

We're talking about the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with 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 achievement hunters, are the only things left for a squad that has achieved everything.

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The fact it required as late as 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 women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over five decades.

It's difficult for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the chance.

In the end, the result of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy being given a chance to deliver her most recent brilliance.

Initially recognized as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.

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

The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped the successful run.

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

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not come up short.

If this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort can be debated.

Many contend the argument supporting championship match pressure. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

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

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"For those following me in training, it's been a frustrating experience because it appeared I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.

"However when you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the competition."

Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her great strength - and a priceless quality in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.

One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the right-hander was underway.

"A chance to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, sort of got me going," commented Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.

Once she was out Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," added Healy.

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

Those words will be the last Australia's opponents at this tournament want to hear.

In recent days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this success following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.

It was in the semi-finals they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a significant event.

Such is her determination, she subsequently stated she regretted not playing despite the injury.

Yet even as she later admitted those injuries have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this championship is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as skipper.

Victory in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.