The Australian Team Breaks New Ground as Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

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

The highest peaks have been successfully scaled.

This is the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed 1,294 days undefeated in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has achieved everything.

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The fact it required up to Sunday's success by three wickets over India for them to complete their first ODI chase exceeding 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the female 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the bowling attack that have sported the yellow jersey over the last half-century.

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

In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was captain Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to deliver her most recent brilliance.

Originally famous as the 19-year-old niece of celebrated previous Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her country didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups from the prior year and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.

A T20 World Cup win came three months after her debut and seven global championships have resulted from 10 attempts across formats.

The determined wicketkeeper was in attendance in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the winning streak.

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 title decider and was declared player of the series. She guaranteed her country would not fall short again.

Whether this recent magnificent innings topped that previous effort remains open for discussion.

Many contend the argument supporting championship match pressure. Others can counter with the difficulty that comes when confronting a historic chase and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.

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

The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this performance came after six matches in India over the past few weeks in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it was a disappointing period because I feel like I've had no rhythm completely," said Healy.

"However when you enter the playing area, your competitive instincts activate and you simply focus on the contest."

Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her key asset - and a priceless quality in taking over from famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in every game, but on this occasion it simply offered Healy's inspiration.

A single came off the bowler's initial ball and from there the batsman was underway.

"A chance to take the field and lock in a contest with her and simply enjoy myself in that aspect, somewhat inspired me," commented Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at a World Cup - and her century in 84 as she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.

Once she was dismissed the team needed 66 additional runs at a run-a-ball - an achievable target now needing a comfortable finish.

"To chase 330 is uncharted waters so I'm happy we have the belief to achieve that now," stated Healy further.

"Preferably we shouldn't have to do it another time but, should it happen, we know we can succeed."

That comment will be the ultimate thing competing nations at this World Cup want to hear.

During the last week a feeling they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this success succeeding win against Pakistan by 107 runs despite struggling at 76-7 at one point.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against longtime competitors England in Indore in a week and a half, by which point a semi-final place may well be secure.

It was in the semi-finals they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - a match Healy couldn't play because of ruptured tissue in her foot as she led her country for the first time at a significant event.

So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing with the discomfort.

However although she subsequently acknowledged those physical issues have postponed consideration of ending her career, this tournament is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in 50-over cricket and she is hasn't yet secured a world championship as captain.

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