The Australian Team Establishes a Fresh Record as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.

It's difficult for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The greatest achievements have long been mastered.

This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, along with an additional six T20 titles, and earlier maintained 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.

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That it took up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase above 300, reclaiming their record for the biggest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the past 50 years.

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

Ultimately, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving an opportunity to produce her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 successful years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup came three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have followed from 10 efforts across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India briefly halted the winning streak.

That loss "motivated us to rethink our standards," Healy stated recently.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 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 is debatable.

Certain people claim the case for the pressure of a final. Different voices suggest with the challenge that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's clear is this century was considerably tougher to predict.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this knock 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 the nets, it has been a frustrating experience because I feel like I've had no rhythm at all," stated Healy.

"But once you take the field, your competitive nature kick in and you just lock into the contest."

Healy's fighting spirit has continuously been her great strength - and an invaluable trait in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, dismissed by the young fast bowler in each encounter, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's spark.

One run resulted off Gaud's first delivery and from that point Healy was in motion.

"The possibility to go out there and face the challenge with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," said Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at the global tournament - and her hundred in 84 as she flogged anything short, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.

By the time she was dismissed Australia needed 66 more at run per delivery - an achievable target now demanding an easy conclusion.

"To chase 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the assurance to achieve that now," added Healy.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to repeat it but, should it happen, we know we can achieve it."

These statements will be the last competing nations at this championship need to hear.

During the last week a feeling they will triumph from any situation has only strengthened - this success coming after success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at one point.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before an encounter with old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a semi-final berth may well be secure.

It was in the semi-finals they left the prior year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a game 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 subsequently stated she wished she had played with the discomfort.

However although she later admitted those injuries have delayed thoughts of retirement, this championship is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as leader.

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