Mithali is highest ODI scorer for women
INDIAN CAPTAIN FIRST TO CROSS 6,000-RUN MARK IN 50-OVER FORMAT
ndian women’s cricket team skipper Mithali Raj yesterday surpassed former England captain Charlotte Edwards to become the highest runscorer in the One-Day Internationals (ODI) at the Bristol County Ground here.
Mithali achieved the feat during yesterday’s group stage match of the Women’s World Cup against Australia here. She scored 69 runs from 114 balls in the match with her innings laced with four boundaries and one hit into the stands.
The Indian skipper now has 6,028 runs in 181 ODIs at an average of 51.37.
Her effort, however, was not enough as the defending champions overhauled the Indian total of 226 for seven wickets easily. Australia reached the target for the loss of two wickets off 45.1 overs.
The 34-year-old is also the first woman cricketer to cross the milestone of 6,000 runs in the 50-over format.
BCCI hails feat
She has scored five centuries and 49 half-centuries — her highest score being an unbeaten 114 runs against Ireland. Earlier, Edwards held the record with 5,992 runs from 191 ODI matches with an average of 38.16. She scored nine centuries and 46 half-centuries during her career, her highest being an unbeaten 173 against Ireland. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) acting president C.K. Khanna congratulated the Indian women’s team skipper for her achievement.
“I on behalf of BCCI congratulate Mithali Raj, Indian women’s team captain, on her spectacular achievement. Mithali Raj showed her class in her early days of international career by scoring a century in One-Day International debut in 1999.
“Mithali Raj has a record for most consecutive fifties by an international women cricketer,” Khanna said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also congratulated Raj on the feat.
“Congratulations @M_Raj03 for becoming the highest ever run scorer in the history of women’s ODI cricket. We are proud of u,” Mamata tweeted.
The India skipper got to the landmark by punching Australia’s Ellyse Perry to the covers in their ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup group match at Bristol.