India captain Mithali Raj became the highest run-getter in women’s One-day Internationals during her side’s group stage encounter against Australia at Bristol on Wednesday. A few deliveries later, the 34-year-old also managed to get past the 6,000 run mark, adding another one of many firsts to her name.
After getting dismissed for a first-ball duck during India’s crushing loss to South Africa in the previous encounter, Raj came into the game needing 34 runs to go past former England captain Charlotte Edwards’ all-time record. The Hyderabadi’s record came in 16 fewer innings than Edwards and she averages a whopping 51.37. The only other batter to have an average above 50 in ODIs is Raj’s counterpart, Australia’s Meg Lanning.
She has been in stunning form this season, scoring seven consecutive fifties earlier, which was another world record.
Raj got to the landmark today with a dab on the off-side off Ellyse Perry after enduring a torrid time during the initial phase of her innings. Raj’s teammate and former India captain Jhulan Goswami, earlier in the year, became the highest ODI wicket-taker, going past Australia pacer Catherine Fitzpatrick.
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