“I definitely don’t want to be reminded about it, but it feels nice to get runs under your belt, feels nice to get runs for the team in the World Cup and when the team does well. I am hoping I can continue to do that,” said India skipper Mithali Raj, who completed an unprecedented seventh consecutive half-century in ODIs in the opener against England in the ICC Women’s World Cup on Saturday,
No nerves
“The way both of them started the innings and with conditions assisting the bowlers — which is why they (England) elected to field — it didn’t feel like they were playing the World Cup or there was any kind of pressure or nerves on them. The two just played on merit and kept going till 25 overs,” Mithali said about openers Smriti Mandhana and Punam Raut at the post-match press conference.
“I think that’s a great opening stand (half the overs being played by the openers) and we look forward to similar opening partnerships in the coming games because if you have solid opening stands the middle-order will come exactly when it is supposed to come and carry on from there, and that makes it much easier to post 250 and above, which is very good for the overall game of women’s cricket,” the captain said.
