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

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

The greatest achievements have already been conquered.

This is the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, those for the record chasers, are the only things left for a team 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 biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over five decades.

It is hard for their batters to maintain a record if never given the opportunity.

In the end, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her newest gem.

Originally famous as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 successful years since.

A T20 World Cup win came three months after her debut and seven international trophies have come from 10 efforts across formats.

The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the successful run.

That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.

The question of whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display is debatable.

Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What is certain is this hundred was much more difficult to predict.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while 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 been unable to reach 30.

"For those following me in the nets, it's been a challenging time because it seemed I lacked timing at all," stated Healy.

"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts take over and you simply focus on the match."

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

She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.

One run resulted off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was in motion.

"A chance to go out there and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.

When she was removed her side needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

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

"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if necessary, we know we can do it."

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

Over the past five days a belief they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this triumph coming after success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one point.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.

It was in the semi-finals they exited last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.

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

But while she later admitted those fitness problems have postponed consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is expected to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a global event as leader.

Success in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.