MUMBAI, Dec 16: Australian women's cricket team captain Belinda Clark today scaled a new peak today by scoring the first-ever double century (229 not out) in overs-limit International cricket - men's or women's. The Australian skipper left a debris of records on way to climbing the cricket version of the Everest in the World Cup match against Denmark here.But for the 27-year-old Belinda, who remained amazingly nonchalant about her monumental achievement, it seemed like just another working day: ``Our goal is to win the final game. Victory by big margins, shooting out the opposition for low scores and setting world records are only incidental.'' Spoken like a true Aussie. Indeed, the Australian camp did not enlighten Belinda about the feat till she came off the field at the end of the innings.Belinda, a Development Officer with the New South Wales Cricket Association, opened the innings and carried her bat with 229 to her credit at the end of the stipulated 50 overs.En route to her magnum opus, she antiquated several records. She reached her third overs-limit century in 64 balls to set a new high for the fastest ODI century - the previous best in 72 balls was also accomplished by her - and then surpassed the all-time ODI individual highest of 156 not out by compatriot Lisa Keightley. Both the world records came against Pakistan at Melbourne earlier this year. Earlier, she also surpassed the World Cup record of 143 not out held by Lindsay Reeler (Australia) against Netherlands at Perth in the 1988-89 edition of the World Cup.Thanks to her knock, Australia plundered 412-3 the highest ever total in women's World Cup and then shot out Denmark for 49 to record victory by the highest margin in the annals of the competition.Belinda is Australia's most prolific run-getter in ODIs, in which she has scored 1797 runs in 38 innings. Her consistency is amazing: she averages 56.01 in ODIs, 104.02 in eight World Cup outings and 87.03 in the six Tests. No wonder coach John Harmer said in a jocular vein that Belinda is related to Sir Don Bradman when quizzed if there are any players in his team who are related to the Australian male cricketers.Belinda, who has been leading her country since the 1993-94 season, was equally sharp in her replies. Asked if the women's team got advice from the Australian men's cricket team, Belinda replied: ``I think they could do with a little bit of advice themselves !''However, there was no overt display of elation on her visage nor was there any adjectives from her to describe her fantastic innings. ``I'm just a bit tired,'' was all she would say even as she interrupted to give an interview on the mobile to media back home.
