Mithali Raj smashes fifth consecutive half-century in Women’s ODIs; completes 20,000 runs in international cricket

Mithali Raj smashes fifth consecutive half-century in Women’s ODIs; completes 20,000 runs in international cricket

Mithali Raj

Indian women’s Test and ODI cricket team skipper Mithali Raj went past 20,000 international runs on Tuesday.

Mithali achieved this tremendous feat during the maiden 50-over game of the three-match series against Australia here at the Harrup Park, Mackay. At number four, she played a sensible knock of 63 runs of 107 deliveries under pressure against a quality bowling attack.

Mithali’s 63-run innings also marked her 59th half-century in One Day cricket. Moreover, she also became the first-ever cricketer on this planet to complete five consecutive 50+ scores in this format. The 38-year-old is already the highest scorer in women’s international cricket across all three formats of the game. She had reached this milestone during the recently-concluded tour of England.

Raj continues her red-hot form

Mithali Raj

One of the woman cricketers of all time, Mithali Raj has been in top-notch form for quite some time now. She has shattered plenty of records in the recent matches and here are her performances in the last five games:

  • 79* v SA at Lucknow
  • 72 v ENG at Bristol
  • 59 v ENG at Taunton
  • 75* v ENG at Worcester
  • 61 v AUS at Mackay

Mithali Raj’s efforts go in vain as Australia post easy victory

Australian batters Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning
Australian batters Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning

Australia captain Meg Lanning won the toss and opted to bowl first. Her decision turned out to be right as the visitors lost both their openers Shafali Verma (8) and Smriti Mandhana (16) inside the powerplay. Apart from Raj, Yastika Bhatia (35) and wicket-keeper Richa Ghosh (32) made decent contributions to help their side post a respectable total of 225-8 in their quota of 50 overs. 

Darcie Brown emerged as the pick of their bowlers for the kangaroos as she recorded a fabulous spell of 9-1-33-4. Sophie Molineux and debutant Hannah Darlington also chipped in two wickets each

The run-chase turned out to be a piece of cake for Australia as they comfortably crossed the finishing line in 41 overs with nine wickets in hand. Opening batters Rachael Haynes (93*) and Alyssa Healy (77) took the game away from Mithali’s girls before Lanning also smashed an unbeaten fifty. Leg-break bowler Poonam Yadav turned out to be India’s lone wicket-taker in the match.

The two sides are now scheduled to lock horns for the second ODI match on September 24 at the same venue.

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