Follow UsPratika Rawal became only the second Indian player after Mithali Raj to hit five consecutive 50-plus scores in Women’s ODIs.
The 24-year-old reached this milestone during the second ODI of the tri-series against South Africa, also involving Sri Lanka, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on April 29 (Tuesday).
Rawal, 24, has had a fantastic start to her ODI career. In her debut game against the West Indies in December 2024, the right-hander crafted 40 runs before scoring 76 in her second ODI against the same opponent.
When Ireland travelled to India in January 2025, the opener registered scores of 89, 67 and 154 in the three-match series. Then, in the first game of the tri-series against Sri Lanka on April 27, Rawal managed an unbeaten 50 to help India win by 90 runs.
Now against South Africa, Rawal brought up her fifty with a six off Annerie Dercksen and joined a special list of batters with five or more consecutive 50-plus scores in Women’s ODIs. Rawal got out to Nonkululeko Mlaba after scoring 78 off 91.
Mithali is the only batter with seven consecutive 50-plus scores in Women’s ODIs. The former Indian captain achieved this feat in 2017. In 2021, Mithali once again scored five consecutive fifties.
Former England captain Charlotte Edwards is another batter who has scored five consecutive 50-plus scores in Women’s ODIs on two occasions. But guess what, Australia’s ace all-rounder Ellyse Perry has done it thrice - the only Women’s cricketer to do so.
In the process, Rawal also became the fastest to 500 runs in Women's ODIs. She now has 572 runs in eight innings at an average of 81.71 and a strike rate of 92.7. Edwards crossed the 500-run mark in her ninth innings.