The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.

It's tough for the Australian squad to set fresh records.

The highest peaks have long been mastered.

We're talking about the team that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and once went over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, targeted by the peak baggers, are the only things left for a side that has achieved everything.

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The fact it required until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.

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

Finally, the result of Australia allowing 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a chance to deliver her newest gem.

Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she first played in 2010 after her country couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the successful run.

That loss "drove us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.

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

Whether this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display is debatable.

Certain people claim the argument supporting championship match pressure. Some might respond with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's clear is this century was far harder to predict.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had been unable to reach 30.

"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it has been a frustrating experience because I feel like I lacked timing whatsoever," commented Healy.

"However when you take the field, your fighting spirit kick in and you simply focus on the competition."

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

She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's spark.

A single came off the opening delivery and after that the right-hander was underway.

"An opportunity to take the field and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment in that regard, somewhat inspired me," stated Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, hitting 21 fours and three maximums.

When she was dismissed Australia required another 66 at a run-a-ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.

"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further.

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

Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this tournament need to hear.

In recent days a belief they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this success following success over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.

It was at that stage they exited the prior 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 first time at a significant event.

So great is her will, she later said she regretted not playing through the pain.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is expected to be her concluding event as leader in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as skipper.

Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.