The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.

It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The greatest achievements have been successfully scaled.

This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the peak baggers, are the only things left for a squad that has won it all.

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That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a compliment to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.

It is hard for their hitters to possess a record if never given the possibility.

Ultimately, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to deliver her most recent brilliance.

Initially recognized as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has witnessed all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have come from 10 efforts across formats.

The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.

That loss "drove us to rethink our standards," Healy commented earlier.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not come up short.

The question of whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.

Some will argue the reasoning behind final game tension. Some might respond with the test that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's clear is this century was considerably tougher to see coming.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 came as she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

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

"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your competitive instincts activate and you completely engage with the contest."

Healy's competitiveness has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.

One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and after that the right-hander was underway.

"The possibility to take the field 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 swiftest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.

By the time she was dismissed her side required another 66 at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.

"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I'm happy we have the confidence to accomplish that now," added Healy.

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

Those words will be the last Australia's opponents at this tournament should 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 sitting at 76-7 at one point.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.

It was in the semi-finals they exited the prior year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.

So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played despite the injury.

Yet even as she later admitted those injuries have postponed plans to retire, this championship is anticipated as her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as captain.

Success in India would take her to the summit of her ultimate challenge.