India newbie on verge of breaking England great's world record with rapid start to ODI career

In the first game of the women's ODI tri-series in Colombo, India chose to field first after winning the toss in a game reduced to 39-overs-a-side due to rain. The spinners then ran riot, taking seven wickets between them to bowl the hosts out for just 147.

The opening partnership in India's chase was dominated by Smriti Mandhana, who scored 43 out of a stand of 54 to put India firmly in the driver's seat. No.3 Harleen Deol then joined Pratika Rawal in the middle, and the pair took India home for a nine-wicket win.

Pratika Rawal closes in on Charlotte Edwards' world record

Rawal remained unbeaten on 50, the fourth half-century of her ODI career, to go with one century, in just her seventh innings. Her run tally now stands at 494, and she averages 82.3 in the format.

In her previous knock of 154 against Ireland, Rawal had overtaken England great Charlotte Edwards to record the most runs ever in a batter's first six innings in women's ODI cricket.

Read more: Has newcomer Pratika Rawal done enough to displace Shafali Verma as India's first-choice opener?

Now, Rawal stands on the verge of another one of Edwards' world records – the fastest to 500 runs in women's ODIs. Edwards did it in nine innings, and Rawal needs just six more runs in her next outing (most likely on Tuesday against South Africa) to reach the mark in eight innings.

Not only would eight innings be the fastest in women's ODI cricket, but it would also be the second-fastest across genders. South Africa's Janneman Malan reached the 500-run mark in just seven men's ODI innings – Rawal narrowly missed out on equalling that against Sri Lanka.

Pratika Rawal – Record in ODI cricket

Fastest to 500 runs in women's ODIs, full list