Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Confronts Her Ultimate Challenge.

It's a challenge for Australia to achieve unprecedented feats.

The top summits have been successfully scaled.

This is the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years without defeat in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, the ones sought by the achievement hunters, are the only things left for a squad that has achieved everything.

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The fact it required until Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the largest in the women's 50-over format, is, in truth, a compliment to the bowling attack that have represented Australia over the last half-century.

It's challenging for their hitters to maintain a record if not afforded the chance.

In the end, the consequence of Australia conceding 330 was captain Alyssa Healy being given a platform to produce her newest gem.

Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after Australia didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.

Success in the T20 World Cup happened three months after her first appearance and seven global championships have resulted from 10 tries across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a last-four loss by India momentarily interrupted the successful run.

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

At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the final and was named player of the tournament. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.

If this newest brilliant performance surpassed that earlier display is debatable.

Some will argue the case for final game tension. Different voices suggest with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

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

The Christchurch destruction in 2022 occurred when she was the highest scorer, but this performance came after six matches 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 has been a frustrating experience because it appeared I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.

"But once you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts take over and you simply focus on the contest."

Healy's fighting spirit has always been her key asset - and a priceless quality in replacing iconic ex-skipper Meg Lanning.

She was challenged by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but here that only provided Healy's motivation.

A single came off the opening delivery and after that the right-hander was in motion.

"A chance to play and face the challenge with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 pitches - her fastest at a World Cup - and her hundred in 84 as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three maximums.

By the time she was dismissed her side needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Chasing 330 runs is new territory so I am glad we have the confidence to achieve that now," added Healy.

"Hopefully we don't have to repeat it but, if we do, we are confident we can achieve it."

Those words will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this World Cup need to hear.

Over the past five days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has grown stronger - this success succeeding success over Pakistan by 107 run margin despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot 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 match Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the initial instance at an important competition.

So strong is her resolve, she subsequently stated she wanted to have participated with the discomfort.

But while she subsequently acknowledged those injuries have delayed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is likely to be her last as captain in 50-over cricket and she is still to achieve a world championship as captain.

Victory in India would bring her to the top of her ultimate challenge.