Mithali Raj Created History, Reached 20,000 Runs In Her Career

Mithali Raj created history, became the world’s first female player in this case.

Veteran India batsman Mithali Raj created history in the ODI against Australia here on Tuesday. She became the first female cricketer to score 20,000 runs in her career.

She has achieved this feat by scoring runs in all three formats of first-class, List-A, T20, and international matches.

However, due to the disappointing performance of the team, India was defeated by nine wickets in the first ODI against Australia.

Australia won the toss and invited India to bat first. The Indian team lost wickets at regular intervals and could only manage 225 runs for eight wickets. Australia won by scoring 227 for one in 41 overs.

Fast bowler Darcy Brown (4/33) and opener Alyssa Healy (77 runs), Rachel Haynes (93 not out), and captain Meg Lanning (53 not out) played a key partnership in Australia’s victory.

Brown was voted player of the match.

The Indian innings again revolved around skipper Mithali Raj, but she again failed to score the quick runs expected. Mithali, who came to bat at number four, scored 61 runs in 107 balls.

Apart from them, only Yastika Bhatia (35) and Richa Ghosh (32 not out), playing their first ODI, could make useful contributions.

If Ghosh and Jhulan Goswami (20) had not put on a 45-run stand for the eighth wicket, India would not have reached even 220. To strengthen the batting, Ghosh was brought in in place of Tania Bhatia.

In reply, Australia’s legendary batsmen did not have a big target. Haynes and Healy ensured their team’s big win for the first wicket by adding 126 runs in just 21.2 overs.

Leg-spinner Poonam Yadav (1/58) broke the partnership by getting Healy caught at mid-off, but it did not make much difference.

Wicket-keeper batsman Healy completed his 13th half-century before being dismissed.

She hit eight fours and two sixes in his innings. Healy and Haynes also completed 2000 runs in ODIs during their innings.

After Healy’s dismissal, Haynes and Lanning took the responsibility very well and shared a 101 run partnership for the second wicket.

In the meantime, both of them completed their 16th half-century, Haynes and Healy hit seven fours each. The second ODI will be played on 24 September.

Indian women’s team captain Mithali Raj said about the defeat, “Sometimes your plans don’t work.

We need to improve our bowling department a lot. We mainly depend on our spinners but when it comes to ease against them.

We need to make some changes to it. No matter how many runs I score, there is always room for improvement. For me, batting is about playing according to conditions, not strike rate.”