Flashback: The first-ever double century in ODIs
One might be surprised to know that the first ever cricketer to breach the mark was a woman but the fact is indeed true as 13 years before Sachin Tendulkar became the first male to achieve the feat in a 50-over match, Australia Women’s team’s captain Belinda Clark had named the feat to herself by slamming an unbeaten 229 off just 155 deliveries against Denmark during the 1997 ICC Women’s World Cup match in Mumbai.
She was merely attempting to familiarize herself with Indian conditions when during the process she brutally destroyed Denmark’s bowling attack. Of course, Denmark fell short of the mammoth 413-run target and were knocked out for just 49 runs, one-fifth of Clark’s total. Clarke, only 27 at the time, shared 100-run partnerships with Lisa Keightley (60) and Karen Rolton (64), and smashed 22 boundaries in her innings.
After taking over the leadership duties in 1994, Clark guided the Australian women’s team to two World Cup titles and one finale over the course of her international tenure between 1991–2005. She was selected Wisden Australia Cricketer of the Year in 1998 and was welcomed into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2011.
In 2000, she was also made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her contributions to cricket, primarily through the Australian Women’s Cricket Team, and to the growth of the sport for women and girls.
She previously held the position of CEO for Women’s Cricket Australia. However, the pinnacle of Clark’s illustrious career was unquestionably the knock in Mumbai. Regrettably, her amazing accomplishments are obscured and eclipsed by her male rivals, however, she will always hold the proudful distinction of being the first ever to reach to 200 in international 50-over cricket.
