The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.

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

The top summits have long been mastered.

This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, those for the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has achieved everything.

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That it took as late as Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the largest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.

It's difficult for their batters to maintain a record if not provided the possibility.

Finally, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her latest masterpiece.

Originally famous as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her bow and seven world titles have followed from 10 tries across formats.

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

That loss "motivated us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fail again.

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

Some will argue the argument supporting final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

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

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"For those following me in the nets, it's been a disappointing period because it seemed I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.

"However when you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the match."

Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.

A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was in motion.

"A chance to go out there and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, sort of got me going," commented Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.

When she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs 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 confidence to do that now," stated Healy further.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we know we can achieve it."

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

In recent days a feeling they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this triumph following success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one stage.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, 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 guided Australia for the first time at a major tournament.

So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated through the pain.

However although she later admitted those injuries have postponed plans to retire, this World Cup is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as captain.

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