India women skipper Raj sets new ODI runs record

Mithali Raj has become the highest run scorer in women’s one-day international history, surpassing 6,000 ODI runs on Wednesday morning against Australia in Bristol, reports cricket.com.au. Raj needed just 34 runs to overtake former England captain Charlotte Edwards on the all-time ODI run-scoring charts and her opportunity at the crease came only, with opener Smriti Mandhana dismissed for three after Australia sent their opponents in. After a slow start, Raj looked in danger of having to wait at least another few days for the record when she was given out lbw to Jonassen on 11. But the India skipper successfully reviewed the decision, before bringing up the record-breaking 5,993rd run with a single in the 29th over.She became the first woman to cross 6,000 ODI runs in far more emphatic fashion, striking a big six over the head of Australian leg-spinner Kristen Beams, later bringing up her 49th half-century from 96 deliveries. Heading into the match, Raj said her focus would be firmly fixed on securing India’s place in the Women’s World Cup semi-finals rather than on breaking records. "Even getting into the tournament, that (record) was never my intent or purpose," Raj said. "As a captain and player I look for the team to do well and that we perform better than the last World Cup.

NEW WORLD RECORD!

Congratulations to #MithaliRaj on breaking Charlotte Edwards' record for most runs in Women's ODIs #WWC17 pic.twitter.com/AqHGZrDt3W— ICC (@ICC) July 12, 2017

"I never really chase milestones, if you have a long career then it’s part of your career. "I’m not looking at getting that milestone, but I am looking forward to scoring runs. "I don’t know how much I would end up scoring in the tournament but I would want runs to flow off my bat." Whether she’s concerned with milestones or not, Raj’s record in the one-day game since making her debut in 1999 is outstanding. She passed Edwards' mark of 5,992 runs in 164 innings – 16 fewer than Edwards played before she retired from international cricket last year.

.@M_Raj03 surpasses Charlotte Edwards (5992 runs) to become the highest run scorer in Women's One Day Internationals pic.twitter.com/o5oUqS2adP— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) July 12, 2017

Raj hasn’t reached triple figures as many times as Edwards – raising the bat for five centuries compared to the Englishwomen’s nine – but she has scored 49 half-centuries – nine of those coming since February this year.

Leading run-scorer in Women's ODIs: #MithaliRaj

Leading wicket-taker in Women's ODIs: Jhulan Goswami ??#WWC17 pic.twitter.com/qv45nAZVca— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 12, 2017

India now possess both the highest run-scorer and wicket-taker in women’s ODIs, with veteran fast bowler Jhulan Goswami breaking Australian Cathryn Fitzpatrick’s wickets record in May this year.