Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.

It's tough for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The highest peaks have already been conquered.

This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and once went nearly four years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are all that remain for a squad that has accomplished all there is.

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The fact it required until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the highest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, frankly, a testament to the bowlers that have represented Australia over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if never given the possibility.

Finally, the consequence of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to deliver her newest gem.

Then best known as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.

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

The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.

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

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.

Whether this newest brilliant performance exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Some will argue the argument supporting final game tension. Some might respond with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's clear is this hundred was much more difficult to anticipate.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she was the highest scorer, 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 was a disappointing period because it seemed I lacked timing at all," said Healy.

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

Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her key asset - and a priceless quality in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's spark.

A single came off the opening delivery and from that point Healy was underway.

"The possibility to take the field and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, sort of got me going," said Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.

By the time she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm pleased we have the belief to achieve that now," added Healy.

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

Those words will be the final thing rival teams at this championship need to hear.

Over the past five days a sense they will win from any position has only strengthened - this success following win against Pakistan by 107 run margin despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.

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

It was in the semi-finals they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at a significant event.

So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing through the pain.

However although she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have delayed plans to retire, this championship is expected to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as captain.

Triumph in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.