Women's World Cup 2022: Mithali Raj becomes oldest Indian to score a fifty in the tournament

Indian skipper Mithali Raj became the oldest Indian cricketer to make a half-century in the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup. The 39-year-old achieved this landmark in the last group match of the tournament played between India and South Africa at Hagley Oval, Christchurch on March 27 (Sunday)

To note, the right-handed-batter was also the youngest Indian cricketer to score a fifty in the 2000 Women’s World Cup against the same opponents. The Jodhpur-born batter has represented India in 231 matches in which she has amassed a total of 7737 runs with an excellent average of 50.37.

The right-handed-batter has stroked 63 half-centuries and seven hundreds in the 50-over format. Mithali has also represented her country in 89 T20I and 12 Test matches scoring 2364 and 699 runs respectively.

Youngest Indian to score 50 in WC – Mithali Raj
Oldest Indian to score 50 in WC – Mithali Raj

Pure class, quality and longevity. Well done, skip @M_Raj03 🙌🏾🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/4HbpjPm12P

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) March 27, 2022

Mithali 68 off 84 balls helped India reach 274/7 in 50 overs

Coming back to the match, skipper Mithali after winning the toss against South Africa decided to have a bat first. Her decision was proven right by the opening batters with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. They provided a solid start putting up a partnership of 91 runs in 15 overs. Batter Shafali was more of an aggressor between the two as she scored 53 off just 46 balls hitting eight fours before getting run out. India were jolted with another quick blow Yastika Bhatia was cleaned up by spinner Cloe Tryon leaving India at 96/2 in 16.3 overs.

Mithali Raj was then joined by other senior batter Harmanpreet Kaur as the duo stitched a decent partnership of 58 runs. The skipper was at her best as she kept milking the balls for singles and doubles, while hitting odd boundaries in between. The 39-year-old completed her fifty in the 37th over.

She added another 18 runs to her total before getting caught on the bowling of Masabata Klaas as the batter tried to lob the ball over mid-on. India ended their innings at a score of 274/7 in their allotted 50 overs. In reply, South Africa on the back of Laura Wolvaardt (80 off 79 balls), Lara Goodall (49 off 69 balls) and player of the match Mignon du Preez (52 not out off 63 balls) chased down the target on the final ball of the match.