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

It's difficult for the Australian squad to achieve unprecedented feats.

The top summits have long been mastered.

We're talking about the team that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus six more T20 titles, and earlier maintained nearly four years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the peak baggers, are the only things left for a team that has achieved everything.

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That it took as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to accomplish their maiden ODI chase above 300, taking back their record for the biggest in women's cricket's 50-over format, is, honestly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the past 50 years.

It's challenging for their batsmen to possess a record if not afforded the chance.

Finally, the outcome of Australia allowing 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy getting an opportunity to produce her newest gem.

Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.

A T20 World Cup win happened three months after her debut and seven world titles have followed from 10 attempts across formats.

The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the winning streak.

That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy said this week.

At the subsequent ODI World Cup in New Zealand, Healy scored 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fail again.

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

Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when facing a record target and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's definite is this century was much more difficult to see coming.

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this performance came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"For those following me in practice sessions, it's been a frustrating experience because it seemed I lacked timing completely," said Healy.

"Yet the moment you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you completely engage with the contest."

Healy's competitiveness has continuously been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in succeeding legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

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

A single was taken off the opening delivery and after that the batsman was in motion.

"An opportunity to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, sort of got me going," said Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her quickest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.

By the time she was removed the team required another 66 at one run per ball - an unconquered height now demanding an easy conclusion.

"To chase 330 is new territory so I'm pleased we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further.

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

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

During the last week a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this victory coming after victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one stage.

Following this Australia face Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.

During that phase they exited last year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - a match Healy was absent due to ruptured tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at a significant event.

So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.

Yet even as she later admitted those physical issues have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this tournament is expected to be her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as captain.

Success in India would lead her to the peak of her last major obstacle.