Totals of over 250 good for women’s cricket: Mithali Raj

London: India captain Mithali Raj feels posting totals in excess of 250 is good for overall development of women’s cricket. Mithali’s team started their campaign in the ICC Women’s World Cup with a resounding 35-run victory over hosts England here on Saturday.

Put into bat, Smriti Mandhana struck a sizzling 90 off 72 balls in a dominating batting display as India posted 281/3 — their best-ever score batting first.

Mandhana forged a 144-run opening wicket stand with Punam Raut (86 off 134) before skipper Mithali Raj (71 not out) completed an unprecedented seventh consecutive half-century in ODIs.

“The way both of them started the innings... with the conditions assisting the bowlers and that’s 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, they just played on merit and kept going till 25 overs,” Mithali said. “Half the overs being played by the openers I think that’s a great opening stand and we look forward for similar opening partnerships in coming games because if you have a solid opening stands your middle-order will come exactly when we are 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.”