Priya Punia, debut
Priya Punia (Image Credit: Twitter)

The 23-year-old Priya Punia made his ODI debut on Wednesday (9th October) and scored an incredible match-winning 75 not out for India Women.

It was the first ODI of the three-match ODI series between India Women and South Africa Women in India. Reliance Stadium (Vadodara) is hosting all the ODIs of this series. In this series opener, the hosts registered an easy victory and have taken the 1-0 lead.

The Indian bowlers dominated after the visitors decided to bat first. South Africa Women managed to score 164 runs (45.1 overs) before getting all-out. Marizanne Kapp scored 54 runs while the opener Laura Wolvaardt scored 39 runs. Captain Sune Luus was the other South African batter to score 20+ runs in that innings as she scored 22 runs.

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Indian pacer Jhulan Goswami bagged three wickets as her bowling figures were 7.1-0-33-3. Also, Shikha Pandey (2/38), Ekta Bisht (2/28) and Poonam Yadav (2/33) took two wickets each and Deepti Sharma (1/31) claimed one wicket.

Priya Punia scored 75 not out

In reply, Indian openers Priya Punia and Jemimah Rodrigues provided the solid 83 runs partnership. After scoring 55 runs off 65 balls, Rodrigues lost her wicket. However, the debutant Punia stretched her innings for a further period and guided her team to the easy victory. The right-handed batswoman scored unbeaten 75 runs off 124 balls (8 fours). This knock helped the hosts to chase the 165 runs target in 41.4 overs after losing two wickets.

Priya Punia’s 75 not out was the second-highest individual score in the second innings batting on the Women’s ODI career debut. The record is 77 runs by Lizelle Lee (South Africa Women) against Bangladesh Women at Benoni on 20th September 2013.

Priya Punia, debut
Priya Punia (Image Credit: Google)

Meanwhile, Priya Punia managed the fourth-highest individual score on the Women’s ODI career debut for India.

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Top five highest run-scorers from India on the Women’s ODI career debut

Player Runs scored Opposition Venue Date
Mithali Raj 114* Ireland Women Milton Keynes 26th June 1999
Reshma Gandhi 104* Ireland Women Milton Keynes 26th June 1999
Anju Jain 84* West Indies Women Nottingham 20th July 1993
Priya Punia 75* South Africa Women Vadodara 9th October 2019
Karu Jain 68* West Indies Women Lucknow 6th March 2004

Mithali Raj became the first Women’s ODI player to have a career span over 20 years

Meanwhile, the ODI captain Mithali Raj has also reached in the new milestone. She became the first player in Women’s ODI history to have a career span over 20 years. Raj made her ODI debut on 26th June 1999 and it was her 204th ODI.

Priya Punia, debut
Mithali Raj (Image Credit: Google)

Among the men’s cricketers, only Sachin Tendulkar (India; 22 years and 91 days), Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka; 21 years and 184 days) and Javed Miandad (Pakistan; 20 years and 272 days) managed the ODI career span over 20 years.