Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.

It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The top summits have been successfully scaled.

This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a side that has won it all.

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It needed up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the largest 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 batters to possess a record if never given the chance.

Finally, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.

Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her bow and seven international trophies have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.

The tough gloveman was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.

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

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.

The question of whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Many contend the case for the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's definite is this ton was considerably tougher to anticipate.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings was preceded by six games in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"For those following me in the nets, it was a disappointing period because it seemed I've had no rhythm completely," said Healy.

"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive nature kick in and you simply focus on the competition."

Healy's competitiveness has always been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.

One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and after that the batsman was in motion.

"The possibility to take the field and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 balls as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three big hits.

When she was removed Australia required another 66 at run per delivery - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the assurance to achieve that now," continued Healy.

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

These statements will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this tournament want to hear.

Over the past five days a sense they will win from any position has grown stronger - this triumph succeeding victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite being 76-7 at one stage.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.

During that phase they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.

So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played through the pain.

But while she later admitted those physical issues have delayed plans to retire, this World Cup is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured an international tournament as skipper.

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