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

It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.

The greatest achievements have long been mastered.

This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with six more T20 titles, and once went nearly four years undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the record chasers, are what's still available for a squad that has achieved everything.

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The fact it required until Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, regaining their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the pitchers that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.

It is hard for their batters to maintain a record if never given the opportunity.

Ultimately, the outcome of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to produce her newest gem.

Initially recognized 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 successful years since.

A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her bow and seven world titles have resulted from 10 tries across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India temporarily stopped 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 made 170 against England in the final and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not fail again.

If this recent magnificent innings exceeded that prior achievement can be debated.

Many contend the reasoning behind final game tension. Others can counter with the challenge that comes when facing a record target and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

What's clear is this century was far harder to predict.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she topped the run-scoring charts, but this performance followed six innings in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've observed me in the nets, it's been a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing at all," stated Healy.

"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you simply focus on the competition."

Healy's fighting spirit has consistently been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in taking over from iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in every game, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.

A single came off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the right-hander was on her way.

"A chance to go out there and engage in competition with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, kind of motivated me," said Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three big hits.

By the time she was out the team needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the belief to do that now," continued Healy.

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

These statements will be the last Australia's opponents at this World Cup want to hear.

During the last week a belief they will win from any position has become more firm - this success coming after win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with longtime competitors England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final berth may likely be confirmed.

During that phase they left the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy missed because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the initial instance at an important competition.

So strong is her resolve, she later said she wished she had played despite the injury.

But while she later admitted those injuries have postponed thoughts of retirement, this championship is anticipated as her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as leader.

Victory in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.