New Delhi: India skipper Mithali Raj scored her sixth ODI century in the ICC Women’s World Cup match against New Zealand in Derby on Saturday.
India were put to bat first after New Zealand won the toss. Mithali came to bat in the fourth over of the match after the dismissal of opener Poonam Raut. She built strong partnerships with Harmanpreet Kaur and Veda Krishanmurthy to build the foundation for a big score.
Mithali and her deputy Harmanpreet Kaur put up a strong 132-run partnership for the third wicket before Harmanpreet succumbed to Leigh Kasperek.
Veda Krishnamurthy stuck on with her captain. Their partnership has also gone beyond the 100-run mark with Krishnamurthy being the aggressor.
India need to beat New Zealand to ensure a place in the semi-final and the match is a virtual quarter-final for them. Mithali had a rather muted celebration upon reaching her hundred, not even taking her helmet off.
Mithali had recently crossed 6000 runs in ODI cricket, become the first in the women’s game to do so. It also means that she is the all time highest run scorer in women’s ODI cricket.
Twitter hailed Indian captain's sixth ODI century.
Mithali 'Consistent' Raj has brought her A+ game to the park again...let's finish strongly from here @BCCIWomen #WWC17
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 15, 2017
Given importance of match and tournament, arguably her finest century. Well played @M_Raj03!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 15, 2017
Mithali Raj looks fluent and elegant with her drives thru the off side. Sounding sweet of the bat #INDvNZ @cricketworldcup @DerbyshireCCC
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) July 15, 2017
What a captains knock from @M_Raj03 Not to forget the impact innings from Veda Krishnamurthy C'mon @BCCIWomen we can win this #WWC17
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) July 15, 2017
Amidst all this ridiculous off-field BCCI and men's coach drama, the women are making us proud on the field #WWC17 #MithaliRaj #INDvNZ
— Kapil Choudhary (@kapil857) July 15, 2017
@M_Raj03 U really deserve a Khel Ratna. Congrats for scoring a century and completing 6000runs
— Sanjay Kedia (@kedia1970) July 15, 2017
Captain leading from the front! @M_Raj03 क्रिकेट प्रेमियों के दिल पर कर रही हैं राज ! उनके शानदार शतक ने किया मंत्रमुग्ध ! #INDvNZ #WWC17 pic.twitter.com/F3eARBGB9R
— Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) July 15, 2017
@M_Raj03 , Jhulan Goswami, @Venuseswilliams @rogerfederer @RafaelNadal.. age is just a number..30s is the new 20s !! #Wimbledon #WWC17
— Vipul Prakash (@vp_vpul) July 15, 2017
Mithali is also India’s top scorer in the tournament so far by some distance and is the third highest run getter overall.
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