Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.

It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.

This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The alternative records, targeted by the record chasers, are the only things left for a side that has won it all.

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It needed as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowlers that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.

It's challenging for their hitters to possess a record if not afforded the possibility.

In the end, the result of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to deliver her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the young family member of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation couldn't capture 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 happened three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.

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

That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy said this week.

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

Whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement remains open for discussion.

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

What's definite is this ton was far harder to predict.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this performance came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"For those following me in the nets, it was a challenging time because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," stated Healy.

"But once you take the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you completely engage with the competition."

Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, dismissed by the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.

A single was taken off the bowler's initial ball and from there the right-hander was in motion.

"The possibility to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment in that aspect, sort of got me going," stated Healy.

She reached fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.

Once she was dismissed the team needed 66 additional runs at run per delivery - a manageable total now needing a comfortable finish.

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

"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we know we can achieve it."

That comment will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this World Cup want to hear.

Over the past five days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this success coming after win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a last-four spot may well be secure.

During that phase they exited the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at an important competition.

So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wished she had played with the discomfort.

But while she later admitted those injuries have pushed back thoughts of retirement, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win a global event as leader.

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