India skipper Mithali Raj creates a new World Record with her 64th ODI fifty for India.
Mithali Raj-led Team India posted a total of 274/7 against South Africa in ICC Women’s World Cup in a ‘do-or-die’ match at Hagley Oval Stadium on Sunday morning. The skipper played a captain’s knock of 68 off 84 balls with eight fours in Christchurch.
India opener Shefali Verma gave a blistering start to the team with a quick 53 runs in 36 deliveries. Smriti Mandhana scored a challenging 71 off 84 balls with skipper Mithali that helped the duo to post a challenging total against Protea women.
The 39-year-old created three new records subsequently in today’s match. With a new world record of playing 64 ODI fifties for India, she also holds the record of scoring the most fifty-plus runs in the Women’s World Cup.
Her maiden half-century came against South Africa in 2000 and co-incidentally she marked her record-setting half-century against the same team at the same venue. Earlier, Mithali was the youngest Indian to score a fifty in the World Cup, now becomes the oldest Indian batter to hit a half-century in the tournament.
The skipper played a crucial knock against South Africa today, changing the game with Harmanpreet Kaur in the middle and with this, they now hold a record of 1978 runs, which is the most by a pair for India in ODIs.
Other pairs who scored more runs for India are Mithali and Anjum Chopra (1946 runs), Mithali and Poonam Raut (1645 runs), Mithali and Mandhana (1354 runs). The only constant here is Mithali Raj and her consistency as a batter on the field.
By showing off her class and experience in the game, she is now the second leading run-scorer in the Women’s ODI World Cup with 1300+ runs for India. It is astonishing to see Indian players setting and breaking records in Women’s rather a world cricket that will add pages in the history of world cricket with pride and honour.
Published By : Ankit Singh
Edited By : Khushi Thakur
