The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.

It's difficult for Australia to break new ground.

The greatest achievements have already been conquered.

This is the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the record chasers, are the only things left for a squad that has achieved everything.

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It needed up to Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over five decades.

It's difficult for their batsmen to maintain a record if not afforded the chance.

Ultimately, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy being given a platform to create her latest masterpiece.

Originally famous as the young family member of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia couldn't capture either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 championship-filled years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup arrived three months after her bow and seven global championships have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the winning streak.

That loss "pushed us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.

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

The question of whether this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Many contend the case for final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What's clear is this hundred was considerably tougher to anticipate.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, but this innings followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've been watching me in the nets, it has been a frustrating experience because I feel like I lacked timing at all," commented Healy.

"Yet the moment you step out on the field, your fighting spirit take over and you just lock into the contest."

Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her key asset - and a priceless quality in succeeding famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.

A single was taken off the opening delivery and from there the right-hander was underway.

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

She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her fastest at a World Cup - and her ton in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, scoring 21 fours and three maximums.

When she was removed the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.

"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the belief to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.

"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, should it happen, we are confident we can achieve it."

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

Over the past five days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this success coming after success over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may probably be guaranteed.

It was at that stage they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at an important competition.

So great is her will, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing through the pain.

Yet even as she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have delayed thoughts of retirement, this championship is expected to be her last as captain in ODI cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a global event as skipper.

Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her ultimate challenge.