Scoring runs in One Day International (ODI) is a tough challenge. Adding the pressure of the World Cup to it makes it an even mammoth task. But some players in history made it look effortless. They consistently scored crucial runs for their teams. Everyone talks about men’s cricket. But let us discuss the Top 10 Highest Run Scorers In Women’s World Cups –
1. Debbie Hockley (1501 runs)
Deborah Hockley was a right-handed batter for New Zealand. In the 43 innings she batted in, she scored 1501 runs at an average of 42.88. She is the only batter in Women’s World Cup history to cross the 1500-run mark. She has 2 centuries and 10 half-centuries to her name. Her best knock came against Sri Lanka in Chandigarh in 1997, in which she scored an unbeaten 100. Two days later, she scored another century against West Indies. She was the first woman to score centuries in two successive World Cup matches.
2. Janette Brittin (1299 runs)
From 1982 to 1997, Janette Brittin donned the England dress in 36 World Cup matches. She averaged 43.30 and score 1299 runs. She smashed 4 centuries and 3 half-centuries, with the best score of 138*. The 138-run inning came against the International XI in Hamilton in 1982. With 4 centuries, she shares the record for most Women’s World Cup centuries with England’s Charlotte Edwards.
3. Charlotte Edwards (1231 runs)
Charlotte Edwards is the leading run-scorer for England women in ODI cricket. As far Women’s World Cup is concerned, she has scored 1231 runs in 28 innings at an average of 53.52. She has 4 centuries and 7 half-centuries to her name. Her greatest knock came against Ireland in Pune in 1997 when she scored 173* (third-highest individual score in the Women’s World Cup).
4. Belinda Clark (1151 runs)
Australia’s top-order batter Belinda Clark is the only player to score a double-century in the Women’s World Cup. She did so against Denmark in Mumbai in 1997 when she scored 229*. This is the highest score by a captain in Women’s ODI. She represented Australia in 26 World Cup innings and scored 1151 runs at an average of 60.57.
5. Mithali Raj (1139 runs)
Mithali Dorai Raj is undoubtedly the best batter for India in women’s cricket. She is the leading run-scorer in Women’s ODI cricket. Till the 2017 Women’s World Cup, she has scored 1139 runs in 29 innings averaging 54.23 runs. She has 2 centuries and 9 half-centuries in World Cups to her name. She led Indian women in the 2017 World Cup, in which they lost in the Final by a small margin.
6. Karen Rolton (974 runs)
Karen Louise Rolton is the former captain and the left-handed batter of the Australian cricket team. She played 22 World Cup innings and scored 974 runs. Her average of 74.92 is the best in the Women’s World Cup. Her best knock came in the 2000 World Cup match in Christchurch against Sri Lanka when she smashed 158* in 118 balls.
7. Suzie Bates (924 runs)
New Zealand’s Suzannah Wilson Bates is a right-handed batter. She averages 61.60 in 19 innings and has scored 924 runs in World Cups. She has 3 centuries and 4 half-centuries to her name. Her best score in World Cups is 168, which came against Pakistan in 2009 in Sydney.
8. Claire Taylor (856 runs)
Claire Taylor is a former English wicket-keeper-batter who played three editions of the Women’s World Cup (2000, 2005, 2009). She is the highest-scoring wicket-keeper in the history of the Women’s World Cup. In 18 innings, she has 856 runs to her name at an average of 61.14. Her best World Cup score of 137 came against Sri Lanka in 2000 in Lincoln. She has 2 more centuries and 4 half-centuries in World Cups to her name.
9. Sarah Taylor (763 runs)
England’s Sarah Taylor has 763 runs in 22 World Cup innings with the best score of 147. She averaged 36.33 and has one century and 4 half-centuries to her name. Her score of 147 is the highest individual score by a wicket-keeper batter in Women’s World Cup history.
10. Lynne Thomas (755 runs)
Lynne Thomas played three editions of the World Cup for International XI and England. In 19 innings, she has 755 runs registered at her name at an average of 50.33. Her best score of 134 came on her ODI debut against International XI in World Cup 1973 in Brighton.
