Veteran Indian pacer Jhulan Goswami did not have an ideal day with the ball in the clash against West Indies. However, with a solitary wicket towards the end of West Indies’ innings, Jhulan entered her name in the record books by becoming the all-time highest wicket-taker in Women’s World Cup over the years.
The 39-year-old surpassed late Australian left-arm spinner Lynette Ann Fullston who had 39 wickets to her name from 20 appearances. The pacer equalled Aussie spinner’s record with a wicket in a losing cause against New Zealand in previous game.
Jhulan broke the record with the wicket of West Indies tailender Anisa Mohammed in the 36th over of the innings. India won the match buy a massive margin of 155 runs at Seddon Park, Hamilton.
Earlier she got off to a poor start with the new ball against West Indies openers. She went for 21 runs in her third over as Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews hit her for five boundaries. She was taken off the attack after leaking 35 runs in her first three overs. She made up for it in the second spell where she bowled three overs including one maiden, got one wicket and conceded just eight runs.
Now, she has 40 wickets from 31 games at an average of 20.77. Before the tournament, she needed four wickets to get the record in her name.
Overall, Jhulan is also the leading wicket-taker in women ODIs. She has 249 wickets from 198 games at an average of 21.83 including two five-wicket hauls. She needs just one wicket to become first to 250 wickets. No other woman cricketer has 200 or more wickets in the format. Former Australia cricketer Cathryn Lorraine Fitzpatrick has 180 wickets from 109 games. West Indies' Anisa equalled the Australian's tally with a couple of wickets against India. From 139 ODIs, Anisa is in second position with 180 wickets to her name at an average of 20.52.
