Australia Breaks New Ground as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.

It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The top summits have already been conquered.

We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, targeted by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a side 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, regaining their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over five decades.

It's difficult for their hitters to maintain a record if never given the possibility.

In the end, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given a chance to produce her most recent brilliance.

Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.

The gritty keeper was in attendance 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 made 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She made sure her country would not fail again.

The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Certain people claim the case for final game tension. Others can counter with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's definite is this hundred was considerably tougher to predict.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this knock came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it's been a challenging time because it seemed I lacked timing at all," stated Healy.

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

Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.

One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from there Healy was on her way.

"The possibility to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," commented Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.

Once she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.

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

"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if we do, we are confident we can succeed."

Those words will be the last rival teams at this championship should hear.

In recent days a sense they will win from any position has only strengthened - this triumph coming after win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one stage.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.

It was at that stage they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a major tournament.

So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wished she had played through the pain.

But while she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as skipper.

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