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

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

The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.

We're talking about the unit that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and once went nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, those for the peak baggers, are the only things left for a side that has accomplished all there is.

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It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.

It is hard for their batsmen to hold a record if never given the possibility.

In the end, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her most recent brilliance.

Then best known as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden 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 semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the run of success.

That loss "pushed us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.

The question of whether this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.

Many contend the reasoning behind final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

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

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as 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.

"If you've been watching me in the nets, it has been a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing at all," stated Healy.

"But once you take the field, your competitive instincts activate and you completely engage with the contest."

Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.

A single came off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was in motion.

"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," commented Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.

By the time she was removed her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Pursuing 330 is uncharted waters so I'm pleased we have the assurance to achieve that now," stated Healy further.

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

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

During the last week a belief they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this triumph following success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.

It was at that stage they exited the previous 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 first time at a major tournament.

So great is her will, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing despite the injury.

Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have delayed thoughts of retirement, this championship is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win a world championship as leader.

Victory in India would take her to the summit of her final mountain.