The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

It's a challenge for Australia to set fresh records.

The top summits have long been mastered.

We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, the ones sought by the record chasers, are all that remain for a side that has achieved everything.

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The fact it required up to 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 women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their batters to maintain a record if never given the chance.

Ultimately, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to create her most recent brilliance.

Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.

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

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

That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy stated recently.

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the final and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not fall short again.

If this latest epic knock surpassed that earlier display is debatable.

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

What's clear is this ton was far harder to anticipate.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it's been a frustrating experience because I feel like my form was missing completely," stated Healy.

"But once you take the field, your competitive nature take over and you just lock into the competition."

Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.

A single was taken off the opening delivery and from that point the batsman was underway.

"A chance to go out there and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her hundred in 84 balls as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.

Once she was dismissed her side required another 66 at one run per ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.

"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the confidence to achieve that now," continued Healy.

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

These statements will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.

Over the past five days a belief they will win from any position has only strengthened - this success coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.

During that phase they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.

So great is her will, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.

But while she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have postponed plans to retire, this championship is likely to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as leader.

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