Australia Sets a New Benchmark as Captain Alyssa Healy Faces One Final Mountain.

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

The top summits have long been mastered.

This is the squad that has won seven Cricket World Cups, plus another six T20 titles, and once went over three years unbeaten in 50-over cricket.

The secondary achievements, those for the record chasers, are all that remain for a side that has achieved everything.

• Healy's Hundred Aids Australia to Record Chase
• Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 - Schedule, Outcomes & Details
• Tournament Standings, Leading Batsmen & Wicket-Takers

The fact it required as late as Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to achieve their initial ODI chase over 300, taking back their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, frankly, a tribute to the pitchers that have worn canary yellow over the last half-century.

It's difficult for their batsmen to hold a record if not afforded the opportunity.

In the end, the outcome of Australia giving up 330 runs was skipper Alyssa Healy receiving a chance to create her newest gem.

Originally famous as the teenage relative of famous ex Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she made her debut in 2010 after her nation didn't secure either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has seen it all through 15 championship-filled years since.

A T20 World Cup win arrived three months after her first appearance and seven world titles have resulted from 10 efforts across formats.

The tough gloveman was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India momentarily interrupted the run of success.

That loss "pushed us to reconsider our benchmarks," Healy said this week.

At the following one-day championship in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the title decider and was awarded tournament MVP. She ensured her country would not come up short.

If this newest brilliant performance topped that previous effort is debatable.

Some will argue the argument supporting the pressure of a final. Some might respond with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a loud pro-India audience of 20,000.

What's definite is this ton was far harder to anticipate.

The Christchurch carnage in 2022 came as she was the highest scorer, but this performance followed six innings in India from the beginning of the previous month in which she had not exceeded 30 runs.

"If you've observed me in the nets, it was a disappointing period because it appeared I lacked timing whatsoever," stated Healy.

"However when you take the field, your competitive instincts take over and you simply focus on the contest."

Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her major advantage - and an irreplaceable characteristic in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.

She was troubled by India's promising player Kranti Gaud in recent ODI series, fallen to the emerging pace bowler in each encounter, but this time it merely gave Healy's motivation.

A single was taken off Gaud's first delivery and from that point the right-hander was on her way.

"The possibility to go out there and lock in a contest with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," commented Healy.

She achieved fifty in 35 deliveries - her swiftest at the World Cup - and her century in 84 deliveries while she punished short deliveries, striking 21 boundaries and three sixes.

When she was out Australia needed 66 more at one run per ball - an unconquered height now needing a comfortable finish.

"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the confidence to accomplish that now," stated Healy further.

"Hopefully we don't have to do it another time but, if necessary, we believe we can achieve it."

That comment will be the final thing competing nations at this championship need to hear.

In recent days a sense they will succeed regardless of circumstances has only strengthened - this success succeeding win against Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at one stage.

Subsequently Australia meet Bangladesh before an encounter with traditional opponents England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may likely be confirmed.

During that phase they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in a shock defeat by South Africa - an encounter Healy was absent due to damaged tissue in her foot as she guided Australia for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.

So strong is her resolve, she afterwards commented she wanted to have participated despite the injury.

However although she afterwards confessed those physical issues have postponed plans to retire, this World Cup is likely to be her final tournament as skipper in one-day cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as captain.

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