The Batting All-rounder Shafali Verma’s Scintillating performance during the first day of the test match against South Africa has set up India’s massive score of 525 runs for four wickets. India is set to host South Africa Women in a three-match ODI series, a One-off Test, and three T20Is.
Shafali Verma Records for Fastest Double Century in Tests
Shafali Verma smashed a double century and records for the fastest to achieve the feat in the Women’s Test while Smriti Mandhana smashed 149 runs to put a mammoth total by the end of day 01. The 20-year-old Shafali scored 200 off just 194 balls, surpassing Annabel Sutherland’s record of a double ton off 248 balls against South Africa on the same side earlier this year.
During the one-off test, the opening duo Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana forged a 292-run partnership for the first wicket to give a solid start for India. Batting first, they played safe shots, but Verma found her groove with boundary in covers which looked forward to partnership.
WATCH & Admire 👌👌
Shafali leads the charge for #TeamIndia with Double Ton!
Sit back and relive her knock here 🎥🔽 #TeamIndia | #INDvSA | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @TheShafaliVerma https://t.co/GLeTGAWTxE
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) June 28, 2024
With both the openers smashing centuries each, Veteran’s aggressive stroke play, including her record-breaking back-to-back sixes, left the South African bowlers disappointed.
South Africa got a little time to breathe during the lunch break, while Mandhana and Verma maintained their phase further putting pressure on South African bowlers. They continued to hit boundaries and eventually, the two batters reached their tons off successive deliveries.
Mandhana has been impressive in the ongoing South Africa women’s tour of India as she had two centuries and a 90 in the ODIs. Mandhana had an opportunity to bring up a double ton in the test but was dismissed on a delivery from Delmi Tucker for 149 runs. She also completed her 500 test runs in the match.
Despite picking the wicket of Mandhana, South Africa bowlers struggled as Verma continued to hit back-to-back sixes, followed by a single to reach a double century. The visitors needed a run out to end Verma’s onslaught. Soon, Rodrigues fell after smashing a fifty.
By the end of day 01, India continued to bat crossing 500 as Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Gosh contributed their part for the side. India scored 525 runs when they put up by stumps is the highest opening day score ever in women’s Test history.
