Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The highest peaks have already been conquered.

This is the unit 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, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has achieved everything.

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That it took until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over five decades.

It's challenging for their batsmen to maintain a record if not provided the opportunity.

Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to deliver her most recent brilliance.

Then best known as the teenage relative of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has seen it all through 15 trophy-laden years since.

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

The gritty keeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the winning streak.

That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy stated recently.

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.

If this latest epic knock exceeded that prior achievement is debatable.

Certain people claim the reasoning behind final game tension. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What is certain is this ton was considerably tougher to anticipate.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this innings was preceded by six games in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a disappointing period because it appeared I lacked timing at all," said Healy.

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

Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, out to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.

One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and from that point Healy was in motion.

"A chance to play and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself that way, kind of motivated me," stated Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 deliveries while she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.

When she was removed Australia needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Chasing 330 runs is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the belief to do that now," added Healy.

"Ideally we won't need to do it another time but, if necessary, we believe we can achieve it."

Those words will be the ultimate thing Australia's opponents at this championship want to hear.

During the last week a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory following victory over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final place may likely be confirmed.

It was at that stage they were eliminated from the prior year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a game Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.

Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she wished she had played through the pain.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have delayed plans to retire, this World Cup is expected to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as captain.

Success in India would bring her to the top of her final mountain.