The Australian Team Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.

It's difficult for Australia to break new ground.

The highest peaks have already been conquered.

We're talking about the unit that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has achieved everything.

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The fact it required until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase above 300, regaining their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the past 50 years.

It's challenging for their batsmen to hold a record if not afforded the opportunity.

Ultimately, the consequence of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a chance to deliver her newest gem.

Then best known as the teenage relative of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.

A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her first appearance and seven international trophies have followed from 10 tries across formats.

The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India temporarily stopped the successful run.

That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She made sure her country would not fall short again.

The question of whether this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.

Some will argue the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's clear is this ton was far harder to see coming.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she led the batting statistics, but this innings followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've been watching me in the nets, it's been a frustrating experience because it appeared my form was missing whatsoever," said Healy.

"Yet the moment you enter the playing area, your fighting spirit take over and you simply focus on the match."

Healy's competitive nature has always been her key asset - and an invaluable trait in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's inspiration.

One run resulted off the opening delivery and from there the batsman was on her way.

"The possibility to take the field and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that aspect, sort of got me going," commented 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, scoring 21 fours and three sixes.

Once she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I'm happy we have the confidence to achieve that now," continued Healy.

"Hopefully we don't have to do it again but, if we do, we know we can succeed."

These statements will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this tournament need to hear.

In recent days a belief they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this victory following win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at a certain moment.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a last-four spot 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 - an encounter Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the initial instance at a significant event.

So great is her will, she later said she wished she had played with the discomfort.

Yet even as she afterwards confessed those physical issues have pushed back plans to retire, this tournament is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in ODI cricket and she is yet to win a global event as leader.

Success in India would take her to the summit of her last major obstacle.