5 World records that were created by female cricketers before male players

In today’s world, there is hardly any discipline or field where women are lagging behind men. Many women have become an inspiration for millions of others by pioneering various advancements in the field of science, medicine, technology, art, culture, entertainment and even sports. Women have caught up to men and are even performing better in various respects.

The journey of women’s international cricket has come a long way since 1934 when England toured Australia and played the first women’s Test match. The International Women’s Cricket Council was established in 1958 to co-ordinate their cricket activities. Though the journey of women’s cricket started 57 years after that of men, the fact that women’s cricket has come at par with men is certainly an impressive achievement.

The male cricketers and their female counterparts have been progressing leaps and bounds since the beginning of their respective careers. In many aspects, women cricketers have trumped their male peers and achieved various awe-inspiring records.

In this article, we will look at five records that were created by female cricketers before male players:

1. First Double Hundred in ODIs

Millions of cricket fans across the globe erupted with joy in 2010 when Sachin Tendulkar breached the 200 run mark in an ODI against South Africa in Gwalior. However, not many fans were aware that this was not an unprecedented achievement. Contrary to popular beliefs, a double hundred had already been scored in International One-Day Cricket by the Australian female cricketer Belinda Clark.

Clark scored 229 runs in 155 deliveries in a Women’s World Cup match against Denmark on December 16, 1997. She remained unbeaten till the end of the innings and scored with an impressive strike-rate of 147.74. On the back of her knock, the Australian team scored 412 runs and managed to secure a victory by 363 runs over their European opponents.

Her innings was laced with 22 elegant boundaries. Interestingly, not only did Belinda Clark trump Sachin Tendulkar to become the first International cricketer to score a double hundred in ODIs, but she also scored it at a better strike-rate as compared to Tendulkar’s 136.05. Also, she played this amazing knock in Sachin’s hometown Mumbai.

2. First Team total over 400 in an ODI Innings

In the same record-breaking match where Belinda Clark surpassed the 200 run barrier for the first time, the Australian Women’s cricket team shattered the glass ceiling by becoming the first International team to score more than 400 runs in an ODI inning.

Again, many fans falsely believed the 2006 Johannesburg match between Australia and South Africa to be the first instance of 400 plus runs being scored in an ODI inning. The record which the match actually held was that of ‘both the teams’ scoring 400 plus runs in their innings during an ODI match and that of the highest successful ODI run-chase.

In the women’s World Cup Match at Mumbai, the Australian team, anchored by Clark’s double hundred managed to score 412 runs at the loss of only 3 wickets. Lisa Keightley and Karen Rolton supported her with their individual fifties. In return, the Denmark Women were bowled out for 49 thus awarding a huge victory to the Aussies, boosting their World Cup campaign.

Thus, the records of both the first ODI double hundred as well as the first 400+ team total were achieved by female cricketers before their male parallels caught up. And quite interestingly, both of these records were achieved in the same match. It can be said that the Women’s World Cup match between Australia and Denmark set the ball rolling for further records in International Cricket.

3. First 5-wicket haul in an ODI World Cup

In 1975, Dennis Lillee captured the World’s imagination by becoming the first male cricketer to grab a 5-wicket haul in an ODI world cup. However, a couple of years before, this achievement had already been preceded in a women’s World Cup match between England and Australia.

In the given match, Australia’s Tina Macpherson became the first International Cricketer to get a five-wicket haul when she scalped 5 wickets for just 14 runs in her quota of 12 overs.

Tina bowled with a miserly economy of just 1.16 runs/over during that match which makes her achievement even more remarkable. She bowled 7 maidens out of the 12 overs she bowled and did not concede any extras. Her economy and average were much better than what her male counterpart would achieve two years later.

Interestingly, in the same tournament, England’s Lynne Thomas became the first and Enid Bakewell became the first and second international cricketers respectively to score hundreds in an ODI world cup. Both of them achieved the feat in the same match against international Women’s team. On the back of their knocks, England scripted a 135-run victory over their opponents.

4. First tied ODI match

Even with an increase in the quality of cricket across the globe and the emergence of new powers in the cricketing circle, tied ODI matches is still a rarity. An ODI match is said to be tied when at the end of innings of both the teams, the net runs scored by both the teams are same. Unlike T20I cricket, a tie-breaker is not required in ODI cricket unless the match concerned is a knock out.

The record for the first tied ODI match in cricket history also belongs to women. The first tied ODI match was played between New Zealand and England in 1982 in Cornwall Park, Auckland. Both of the teams scored 147 runs at the end of their quota of 60 overs.

The first tied ODI match in men’s cricket history came after a couple of years. The match was played between the veteran West Indies and Australian cricket team. Both of the teams scored 222 runs the end of their prescribed quota of 50 overs.

5. First team to win five World Cups

Australians have always been giants in the sport of cricket, whether it is their men’s team or the women’s team. Undoubtedly, both of them are the most successful teams in their respective World Cups. However, the Australian Women’s team trumped their masculine peers in becoming the first international team to win 5 or more World Cups.

The Australia Women’s team achieved this feat in 2005 when they won their fifth title following up on their victories in 1978, 1982, 1988 and 1997. Currently, they have 6 world titles to their name with the latest one coming in 2013. Interestingly, they have also 5 World T20 titles to their name with the victories coming in the years 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2020.

The Australian Men, on the other hand, achieved their 5th World Cup Victory ten years after their female companions. They have 5 world titles to their name coming in the years 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015. Also, unlike their female counterparts, Australian Men’s cricket team has never won a World T20.