Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.

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

The highest peaks have already been conquered.

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

The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a team that has accomplished all there is.

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That it took until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their hitters to hold a record if not provided the opportunity.

Finally, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given a chance to create her most recent brilliance.

Initially recognized as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her bow and seven global championships have come from 10 tries across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.

That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short.

Whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Some will argue the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What's definite is this ton was far harder to see coming.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this knock followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"For those following me in practice sessions, it was a disappointing period because it seemed I lacked timing completely," said Healy.

"However when you take the field, your competitive nature kick in and you completely engage with the match."

Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.

A single was taken off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was on her way.

"An opportunity to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.

By the time she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.

"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the assurance to do that now," continued Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if necessary, we are confident we can succeed."

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

Over the past five days a belief they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this success following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.

It was in the semi-finals they left last year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the first time at an important competition.

So great is her will, she later said she wished she had played with the discomfort.

But while she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have pushed back plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as leader.

Triumph in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.