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

It's tough for Australia to set fresh records.

The top summits have been successfully scaled.

We're talking about the squad that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, targeted by the achievement hunters, are all that remain for a team that has accomplished all there is.

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That it took up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a testament to the bowlers that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their batters to hold a record if never given the possibility.

In the end, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to create her newest gem.

Originally famous as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 championship victory happened three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have come from 10 attempts across formats.

The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.

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

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy made 170 against England in the title decider 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 remains open for discussion.

Some will argue the case for championship match pressure. Some might respond with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What is certain is this century was far harder to see coming.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've observed me in practice sessions, it's been a challenging time because it seemed I lacked timing completely," said Healy.

"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive nature take over and you completely engage with the match."

Healy's competitive nature has consistently been her key asset - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.

A single was taken off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was on her way.

"An opportunity to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, sort of got me going," said Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.

By the time she was removed Australia required another 66 at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the belief to do that now," added Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, should it happen, we know we can achieve it."

That comment will be the last Australia's opponents at this tournament want to hear.

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

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.

During that phase they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy couldn't play because of damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a major tournament.

So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated through the pain.

But while she afterwards confessed those injuries have postponed thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is expected to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as leader.

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