Australia Establishes a Fresh Record as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.

It's difficult for Australia to break new ground.

The highest peaks have long been mastered.

We're talking about the squad that has secured seven Cricket World Cups, along with another six T20 titles, and earlier maintained over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The remaining milestones, the ones sought by the peak baggers, are what's still available for a team that has won it all.

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That it took as late as Sunday's victory by three wickets over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase exceeding 300, taking back their record for the biggest in the female 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.

It is hard for their batsmen to maintain a record if never given the opportunity.

In the end, the result of Australia conceding 330 was skipper Alyssa Healy being given an opportunity to deliver her newest gem.

Then best known as the 19-year-old niece of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after Australia failed to win either of the 20 or 50-over World Cups conducted earlier and has experienced everything through 15 trophy-laden years since.

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

The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India temporarily stopped the successful run.

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

At the subsequent ODI 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 fail again.

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

Certain people claim the case for final game tension. Others can counter with the test that comes when confronting a historic chase and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What is certain is this hundred was much more difficult to anticipate.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 happened while she led the batting statistics, but this innings came after six matches in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had failed to pass 30.

"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it has been a challenging time because I feel like my form was missing at all," commented Healy.

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

Healy's competitive nature has always been her great strength - and an irreplaceable characteristic in replacing famous previous leader Meg Lanning.

She was tormented by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, fallen to the 22-year-old seamer in all three matches, but this time it merely gave Healy's inspiration.

A single came off Gaud's first delivery and after that Healy was on her way.

"The possibility to play and engage in competition with her and simply enjoy myself in that regard, sort of got me going," commented Healy.

She got to fifty in 35 pitches - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her ton in 84 as she flogged anything short, scoring 21 fours and three big hits.

Once she was dismissed the team needed 66 additional runs at one run per ball - an achievable target now requiring a leisurely stroll.

"Pursuing 330 is new territory so I'm happy we have the assurance to do that now," stated Healy further.

"Ideally we won't need to do it again but, if necessary, we are confident we can do 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 being 76-7 at one stage.

Next Australia play Bangladesh before a meeting with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, 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 surprising setback by South Africa - a game Healy was absent due to torn tissue in her foot as she led her country for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.

So great is her will, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing despite the injury.

Yet even as she subsequently acknowledged those fitness problems have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this championship is likely to be her concluding event as leader in one-day cricket and she is still to achieve an international tournament as captain.

Victory in India would lead her to the peak of her final mountain.