The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

It's difficult for the Australian squad to break new ground.

The greatest achievements have already been conquered.

This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, targeted by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a side that has achieved everything.

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The fact it required until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their batsmen to maintain a record if never given the opportunity.

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

Initially recognized as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her bow and seven international trophies have followed from 10 tries across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the run of success.

That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.

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

Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.

Certain people claim the case for championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's clear is this ton was far harder to anticipate.

The Christchurch destruction 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 been unable to reach 30.

"For those following me in practice sessions, it was a frustrating experience because it seemed my form was missing at all," commented Healy.

"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive nature activate and you just lock into the contest."

Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.

One run resulted off the opening delivery and from there the right-hander was in motion.

"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 balls as she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.

When she was dismissed the team required another 66 at run per delivery - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further.

"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if necessary, we are confident we can do it."

That comment will be the last rival teams at this World Cup want to hear.

Over the past five days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory coming after success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with 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 were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at an important competition.

Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing despite the injury.

However although she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as skipper.

Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.