Mithali Raj creates cricket history, becomes leading run-getter in Women’s ODIs

Mithali Raj created cricket history during the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 encounter against Australia. She not only became the leading run-getter in ODIs, but went past 6,000 ODI runs, making her the first women cricketer to achieve the feat.

Mithali Raj has been India’s premier player ever since she made her debut in 1999. Her exploits in the international stage in both Tests and ODIs have made her India’s premier player. The ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 in England has proven to be lucky for the Indian captain. (INDIA vs AUSTRALIA LIVE SCORE)

Mithali Raj created cricket history in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 game against Australia as she became the leading run-getter in women’s cricket as well as becoming the first player to go past 6,000 ODI runs. (Action Images via Reuters)

Mithali Raj started off her tournament in grand style as she created a world record by smashing seven consecutive fifty-plus scores, making her the first woman player to achieve the feat.

Mithali broke another record when she became the first player in the women’s game to reach 6000 ODI runs when she launched legspinner Kristen Beams over long on for a big six.

Here are some of the statistical milestones that Mithali has broken in her 18-year playing career

1 - Mithali Raj became the first women’s player to reach 6000 ODI runs. No other women’s player had achieved this mark. England’s Charlotte Edwards was the previous leading run-getter in ODIs with 5992 runs.

49 - Number of fifties by Mithali Raj in ODIs, which is the most by any woman player. Charlotte Edwards had the previous highest number of fifties with 46.

7 - Number of consecutive fifties Mithali Raj had scored before the world cup and during the tournament. This is a record streak in women’s cricket.

3 - Mithali Raj is only the second player in women’s cricket history to average over 50 in ODIs. The Indian skipper currently has an average of over 51. Australia’s Meg Lanning has the highest average of 54.12 followed by Ellyse Perry, who has an average of 50.

164 - Number of innings that has taken Mithali to achieve this feat. She has 48 not-outs to her name, which is the most in women’s cricket.