India captain Mithali Raj became the highest run-getter in women’s cricket across formats, overtaking former England skipper Charlotte Edwards.
Mithali Raj becomes Leading Run scorer
Mithali achieved the feat during the third and final inconsequential ODI against hosts England while chasing 220 for a consolation win.
The talismanic India batter got to the milestone with a boundary down the ground off Nat Schiver in the 23rd over. Mithali now became the world’s most prolific batter in women’s internationals, overtaking Edwards’ 10,273 runs.
Mithali scored an unbeaten half-century, 75 not out, to hand the Indian women’s team their first win on their ongoing tour of England.
“I do read that the criticism is in strike-rate. Look, I don’t seek validation from people, I have been playing for a long time. I have a responsibility and I am here to play the role assigned to me,” Mithali told reporters after the game.
It’s a role she came good in as she worked on her strike rate en-route to hitting the winning boundary that gave India a four-wicket win in the last one-day fixture at Worcester.
After the win, Mithali said that she wanted to stay out in the middle and win the match for the team.
“I never gave up in the middle. It’s being in the middle because you can’t win the match sitting out in the dugout. I wanted to win the game for the team,” Mithali said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Mithali hails the record as the purpose of all the trials and tribulations her 22-year-long career has seen.
“I think the way things have gone, it was not an easy journey. It has its own challenges. I believe trials have a purpose. There were times I wanted to give up but something kept me going. Twenty-two years on, the hunger to score runs has not ended, to be there in the middle and win games for India has not ended,” she said.
England has been a favoured hunting ground for the Indian captain, with many key milestones in her career coming there.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing against England in England. They say English conditions are difficult but I’ve scored bulk of my runs on this soil. I’ve come here off bad form and found my rhythm here. I was here in ’99 and it’s come full circle. I hope my form continues in the series to come as well,” she added.
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Mithali Praises Sneh Rana
Mithali was full of praise for young all-rounder Sneh Rana who played a cameo to put India on the brink towards the back end of their chase.
“We just needed one good partnership to take us through. I knew I could manage the game in the middle overs, but when you have young players you have to guide them.
“I have enjoyed chasing. I wanted to be there and win the game for the team, I picked the bowlers to attack and along the way guided Sneh Rana. It is always good to have an all-rounder in the side, she (Sneh) has been phenomenal for us throughout the series,” Mithali added.
“Credit to Sneh Rana for the partnership. She kept her calm and did the job. That’s a slot we’ve always looked for somebody who has the shots to clear the field – strong shots all around. And it helps to have a player there who can also bowl. So it’s good to have her in the side,” Mithali said.
