Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.

It's a challenge for Australia to break new ground.

The greatest achievements have long been mastered.

This is the unit that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, plus an additional six T20 titles, and once went 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, those for the record chasers, are what's still available for a side that has achieved everything.

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That it took as late as 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 tribute to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.

It is hard for their batsmen to maintain a record if not provided the possibility.

Finally, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given a platform to produce her latest masterpiece.

Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups held the previous year and has experienced everything through 15 successful years since.

A T20 championship victory arrived three months after her debut and seven world titles have come from 10 tries across formats.

The gritty keeper was present as well in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the run of success.

That loss "drove us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy commented earlier.

At the next 50-over 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 come up short.

The question of whether this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display is debatable.

Certain people claim the reasoning behind championship match pressure. Different voices suggest with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and an enthusiastic Indian fanbase of 20,000.

What is certain is this century was considerably tougher to see coming.

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this innings was preceded by six games in India since the start of last month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've been watching me in training, it's been a disappointing period because I feel like my form was missing at all," commented Healy.

"However when you take the field, your fighting spirit activate and you just lock into the contest."

Healy's competitive nature has continuously been her major advantage - and a priceless quality in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's rising star Kranti Gaud in last month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's motivation.

One run resulted off the bowler's initial ball and after that Healy was underway.

"The possibility to take the field and lock in a contest with her and merely enjoy the moment that way, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.

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

By the time she was out her side needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.

"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I am glad we have the confidence to do that now," stated Healy further.

"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if necessary, we are confident we can succeed."

Those words will be the final thing competing nations at this championship need to hear.

Over the past five days a feeling they will triumph from any situation has become more firm - this success following win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with old rivals England in Indore in 10 days, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.

During that phase they were eliminated from last year's T20 World Cup in a surprising setback by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a significant event.

So great is her will, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated through the pain.

Yet even as she later admitted those fitness problems have postponed thoughts of retirement, this World Cup is anticipated as her last as captain in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve a global event as skipper.

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