Harmanpreet Kaur surpassed Mithali Raj to become India’s leading run-scorer in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup during Sunday’s match against Pakistan at Edgbaston. Coming to the crease after two early wickets, she helped steady the innings alongside Smriti Mandhana as India tried to rebuild amid regular setbacks.
Harmanpreet Kaur surpasses Mithali Raj
Harmanpreet Kaur started the innings jointly at top with Mithali Raj (726 runs) but then went past former Indian captain. Raj had scored 726 runs at an average of 40.33 and strike rate of 97.31. Harmanpreet equalled that record at an average of 25.03 and strike rate of 112.31. Today she broke the record with a single to get off the mark in the fourth over of India’s batting innings.
Most runs for India in Women’s T20 World Cups:
Harmanpreet Kaur – 730 runs*
Mithali Raj – 726 runs
Smriti Mandhana – 524 runs
Jemimah Rodrigues – 407 runs
Punam Raut – 375 runs
India’s efforts against Pakistan led by Mandhana and Kaur
Once India lost Shafali and Jemimah Rodrigues within first 20 balls, India’s captain was called upon early to recover the innings along with Smriti Mandhana. Both took India from 18/2 to 109/3 but it was not enough especially against a formidable Pakistan attack. Earlier Shafali Verma’s stay lasted just six runs whereas Rodrigues managed only one run. Mandhana scored a 44-ball 68 whereas Kaur added 36 off 35 deliveries. After Mandhana’s dismissal the onus was on the skipper, but Kaur failed within next three overs.
“I think it’s a very good pitch to bat on, so we just thought, let’s bat and set a decent total on the board,” she said at the toss. “Well, I think we are all very excited. The last World Cup definitely gave us a lot of confidence, and we just want to carry that confidence to this World Cup. Yes, definitely [pleased with the buildup]. We have plugged a lot of areas, and now it’s only about playing good cricket, and we are looking forward to that.”
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