Five Records That Were Created By Women Cricketers Before Male Players

Women cricketers have taken huge strides in recent times. In today’s world, there is hardly any field or line in which women are lagging or not making breakthroughs. Women have become a living example for millions to make inroads in the aspect of medicine, technology, art, culture, space, and not to forget sports. Cricket, in specific, is one such area where female cricketers have kept on escalating.

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People celebrate record-breaking landmarks in men’s cricket with immense joy. Undeniably, if a male athlete reaches a milestone, it does command celebration. But many may not be aware women cricketers already breached some of those numbers. We might be oblivious; however, women’s cricket has reached those heights where, in some aspects, they have left behind their male counterparts.

We take a glance at five records which women cricketers created before men did:

First double-hundred in ODIs:

The cricketing world came to a standstill, and people still want to relive the moment when Sachin Tendulkar got to double-hundred in an ODI in 2010 against South Africa in Gwalior. It was the inaugural in men’s cricket; however, it wasn’t the first in the version. Australian women’s cricketer Belinda Clark had already breached that particular landmark way back in 1997.

Clark mustered 229 off 155 deliveries in a Women’s World Cup match against Denmark in Mumbai. She remained unbeaten till the end of the innings and maintained a mind-numbing strike rate of 147.74. Her knock helped Australia to a total of 412, eventually earning a victory by a massive margin of 363 runs.

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The first team total of over 400 in an ODI inning:

The same fixture in which Belinda Mark passed the 200-mark, Australia crossed 400, becoming the first international team to do in a One-day international. Contrary to popular beliefs, the 2006 men’s ODI between Australia and South Africa in Johannesburg wasn’t the inaugural time; the 400-mark was breached.

Guided by Clark’s knock of 229, Australia romped to 412 for the loss of only three wickets in Mumbai. The likes of Lisa Keightly and Karen Rolton played a supporting role by scoring half-centuries. Australia embarrassed their opponents, Denmark, by bowling them out for 49, winning by 363 runs.

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First five-wicket haul in an ODI World Cup:

Former Australian speedster Dennis Lillee was the first bowler to capture five wickets in an ODI World Cup game. He did so against Pakistan during the 1975 World Cup in Leeds, giving Australia a win by 73 runs. Dennis Lillee’s figures in that match were 12-2-34-5.

Surprisingly, he wasn’t the first one to achieve the feat. A couple of years back, Lillee’s fellow countryperson Tina Macpherson did it against England. Tina grabbed five wickets in 12 overs for 14 runs at a stunning economy rate of 1.16 per over. She chalked out seven maidens on her way to a remarkable feat.

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First tied ODI match:

The fourth record that makes it to this list is that of a tied ODI game. An ODI game is set to be tied when at the end of the innings, the net runs accumulated by both the teams turns to be equal. A tie-breaker for ODI isn’t generally required unless the clash is a knock-out game.

The first tied One-day international transpired at the Cornwall Park in Auckland in 1982. New Zeland and England were the teams involved, having made 147 runs in their allotted 60 overs. Contrary to that, the first tied ODI in men’s cricket occurred in 1984 between Australia and West Indies at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. Both sides had scored 222 in their quota of 50 overs.

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The first team to win five World Cups:

When it comes to World Cups, Australia transform into a top-notch side. They might struggle to get going in the bilateral series preceding the same; however, during World Cups, one can count them on their peril. When Michael Clarke lifted the 2015 World Cup, Australian men’s team had helped themselves to five such trophies in their cabinet.

But strangely, they weren’t the first. Their female counterparts had achieved this feat back in 2005, backing up their triumphs in 1978, 1982, 1988, and 1997. At present, they have six titles to their name with the latest arriving in 2013. The females also have five T20 titles at their disposal, winning it in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2020.

The Australian men’s team won the ODI World Cups in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2015. However, they’ve never lifted the title of the shortest format.

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