Record-breaking Mithali Raj becomes leading run-scorer in women's international cricket

Mithali Raj, the India Test and ODI captain, has surpassed former England captain Charlotte Edwards as the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket on Saturday. Raj, 38, bettered Edwards' tally of 10,273 in the 24th over of the Indian innings in the third ODI in Worcester. She reached the milestone with a four down the ground off quick bowler Nat Sciver. New Zealand's Suzie Bates is third on the list with 7849 runs.

Raj finished on an unbeaten 75, steering India to a four-wicket win on Saturday. After being named the Player of the Match, she told Sky Sports: "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.

"I just needed to get the partnership to take it to the last. That's something that kept me going through the innings. I knew in the middle overs I could manage the game. When you have young players in the side, you need to guide them along, that's a responsibility."

When asked about becoming the highest run-scorer in women's internationals, Raj said, "I'm just happy, thank you."

On July 12, 2017, during the league stage of the 11th edition of the ODI World Cup, Raj went past Edwards to become the highest run-getter in women's ODIs. In the same match, against Australia, she became the first batter to cross 6000 runs in the format. Her 58 fifties, three of which came in the ODI leg of the ongoing multi-format series against England, are the most by a woman in ODIs.

Raj quit T20I cricket in September 2019, and is placed at No. 7 on the list of the leading run-scorers in the format, with 2364 runs at an average of 37.52 and strike rate of of 96.33. Harmanpreet Kaur, who succeeded Raj to T20I captaincy, is the only other Indian in the top ten of that chart.

In Tests, her 669 runs from 11 matches at an average of 44.60 are the fourth-most among India Women players and highest among Indians still active in the women's international cricket.

Raj, who completed 22 years as an India cricketer last month, is one win away from becoming the most successful captain in women's ODIs.