Top 5 knocks of Mithali Raj in international cricket

Mithali Raj had a glorious career for around 23 years before she called time on her career on June 8, Wednesday. She was one of the finest cricketers that Indian cricket had ever witnessed, and probably the best, that women’s cricket ever had. She was the reason behind the growth of Women’s cricket in India and was the flag bearer of the game. An idol for many young girls, Raj announced her retirement at the age of 39.

She entered the field at a very young age of 16 and marked her arrival into the game with a magnificent ton, and managed to score a half-century in the last international game that she played, thereby putting curtains on an enormous career. Since the year 1999, Raj kept breaking and creating records. Having received the Arjuna Award, Padma Shri Award, and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award among many of her achievements, she bid adieu to the game with a total of 10868 career runs, the most by any female cricketer. As the era comes to an end, let us have a look at-

Top 5 knocks of Mithali Raj in international cricket

5. 109 vs New Zealand in 2017

This knock came up during the World Cup of 2017 when India was up against New Zealand, after facing defeats in their previous fixtures. After India’s top-order crumbled, Raj took charge of the game and scored a glorious ton to take her side to a competitive total of 265/7.

Her knock consisted of 109 runs from 123 balls, including 11 fours. India needed the victory badly, and Raj’s knock helped the team sail past New Zealand. After she helped her team post the big total, the Indian bowlers did the job by dishing out the opponents for mere 79 runs.

India won the match by a staggering 186 runs, and with that victory, the team booked their place in the semi-finals of the global event. The World Cup of 2017 was historic in Indian women’s cricket, as India made it to the finals, before losing the ultimate fixture to England.