Shafali, Mandhana dominates the South Africa Women’s Team! IND W vs SA W One-off Test
The Indian women’s cricket team displayed a terrific performance on the opening day of the one-off test match series against South Africa played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. On 28th June 2024 (Friday), the Indian opening batters Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana emerged as the star performers of the day. Their 292-run opening partnership created a sensation and proved to the world that women cricketers are strong enough to face any challenges as they are capable of achieving several records similar to those of male cricketers.
Shafali Verma’s magnificent double century along with Smriti Mandhana’s exceptional century steered India to a total of 525-4 in 98 overs at the end of Day 1.
Interestingly, Shafali Verma became the first female player in cricket history to score a double century in a single day, which includes her terrific knock of 205 runs from 197 balls (including 23 fours and 8 sixes) at a strike rate of 104.06. Additionally, Smriti’s innings of 149 runs from 161 balls (including 27 fours and 1 six) left the South African bowlers struggling throughout the day.
Furthermore, the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar hailed the brilliant performances of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana on his X handle (formerly known as Twitter) saying that the stellar performance by the girls set a tone for a dominant day. Also, the former Indian cricketer was expecting more action from the team on the next day. His desire came out to be true as the entire team managed to breach the 600 mark for the first time in women’s test cricket.
It would be interesting to find out how Shafali Verma’s double century shattered several records and set a new milestone for the women cricketers in test cricket.
Shafali Verma’s Latest Records in Women’s Test Cricket
Here are the amazing records achieved by Shafali Verma as an opening batter in women’s test cricket:
1. Fastest Double Century in Women’s Test Cricket:
Shafali Verma smashed the fastest double hundred in women’s test cricket in just 194 balls and surpassed the previous record of Australian batter Annabel Sutherland’s record of 248 balls earlier this year.
2. Youngest Indian woman cricketer to score 500+ runs:
At 20 years and 152 days old, Shafali Verma became the youngest Indian woman cricketer to score more than 500 runs in tests. She overtook Sandhya Agarwal’s record, who achieved this remarkable feat at the age of 21 years and 308 days.
3. Fastest century in Women’s Test Cricket:
As an Indian batting all-rounder, Shafali Verma achieved the fastest hundred in Women’s test cricket in just 113 balls. She broke the previous record of former English cricketer Janette Brittin, who achieved this feat in 137 balls back in the year 1984.
4. Most sixes in Women’s Test Cricket Innings:
Shafali’s 205-run knock includes 8 sixes, which is the most by any women cricketer in a test innings. Till now, no batter has managed to hit more than 3 sixes in an individual test innings.
Earlier, players like Alyssa Healy, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Sophie Dunkley, and Annabel Sutherland achieved the record with 2 sixes each in an innings which includes Shafali’s name in the list as well. Overall, the 20-year-old batter has a tally of 13 sixes in her test career.
5. First Woman Cricketer to score Double Century in a Single Day:
Shafali Verma, after scoring 205 runs, became the first woman cricketer to score a double hundred in a single day of a test match. She broke the previous record of former England cricketer Betty Snowball’s 189 runs against New Zealand in 1935.
6. Second Woman Indian Cricketer to score a double century:
After Mithali Raj (in 2002 against England), Shafali Verma emerged as the second Indian woman cricketer to score a double hundred in test cricket.
7. Second-youngest batter to score a century:
Shefali Verma became the 2nd youngest Indian batter to score a century in women’s test cricket after Mithali Raj, who recorded a hundred at the age of 19 years and 254 days.
Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana Partnership: Interesting Records in Women’s Test Cricket
Here’s how the opening partnership of 292 runs between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandana redefined the way on how the women’s test cricket is played:
1. Highest Opening Partnership in Women’s Test Cricket:
Smriti and Shafali surpassed the previous record of 242 runs opening partnership between the Pakistani batters Kiran Baluch and Sajjida Shah in 2004.
2. Second-highest partnership in Women’s Test Cricket History:
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma achieved the 2nd highest partnership in Women’s Test cricket after the former Australian batters Denise Audrey Annetts and Lindsay Anne Reeler’s 309-run partnership against England in 1987.
3. Highest Partnership for India in Women’s Test:
Earlier, Thirush Kamini and Punam Raut held the highest partnership of 275 runs against South Africa in 2014, which was surpassed by Smriti and Shafali after 10 years.
Conclusion:
On Day 2, Harmanpreet Kaur’s led side declared the innings at a total of 603-6 in 115.1 overs, which became the highest total ever in the women’s test cricket history. Team India was able to achieve this feat due to the opening stand between Shafali and Mandana which motivated these three middle-order batters to score half-centuries each namely:
- Jemimah Rodrigues: 55 runs from 94 balls (including 8 fours)
- Harmanpreet Kaur: 69 runs from 115 balls (including 4 fours)
- Richa Ghosh: 86 runs from 90 balls (including 16 fours)
In response, South Africa batters scored 236-4 in 72 overs on the same day, riding on the knocks of Sune Luus (65 runs from 164 balls — including 6 fours and 1 six) and Marizanne Kapp, continuing her innings on 69 runs from 125 balls (including 8 fours).
Finally, fans are excited to watch how India maintains their domination against South Africa on the next day of the ongoing test series.