India came into this one-off Test against the Proteas after playing home Tests against England and Australia in December 2023. The Indian team, which had whitewashed the Proteas 3-0 in the ODIs, continued their domination on day 1 of the Test at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai after electing to bat first. Opener Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma were watchful in the first session before attacking in the second session. The duo added a total of 292 runs before Smriti Mandhana was dismissed for 149, surpassing her previous best score of 127 against Australia in 2021. Delmi Tucker provided the much-awaited breakthrough for the Proteas when Smriti nicked one into the slips.
Smriti and Shafali put on not only India’s highest stand but also the highest partnership in women’s cricket, surpassing the previous best of 241 between Kiran Baluch and Sajjida Shah against the Windies in 2004. They also registered the second-highest partnership for any wicket, with the first being 309 runs between Denise Annetts and Lindsay Reeler from Australia.
Highest Opening Partnership in TESTs:
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma (IND-W) 292 vs South Africa, Chennai 2024
Kiran Baluch, Sajjida Shah (PAK-W) 241 vs West Indies, Karachi 2004
Caroline Atkins, Arran Brindle (ENG-W) 200 vs India, Lucknow 2002
Belinda Clark, Belinda Haggett (AUS-W) 178 vs India, North Sydney 1991
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma (IND-W) 167 vs England, Bristol 2021
292 Runs (312) – Smriti Mandhana 🤝 Shafali Verma
✅ Highest partnership for India in Women’s Test
✅ 2nd Highest partnership overall for any wicket in Test#CricketTwitter #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/A5COJUnRWd— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 28, 2024
Shafali was the first of the openers to raise her bat with a hundred, her first for the national side. The 20-year-old completed her hundred off 113 balls, breaking the record of 137 balls set by Janette Brittin in 1984. Her aggressive batting set the tone for India’s innings.
Shafali’s century was followed by her partner Smriti Mandhana, who scored her second Test century off 122 balls. This series will be well known for the left-handed batter scoring her third century in the ongoing all-format series. Mandhana’s innings included 26 boundaries and one maximum, accelerating at a strike rate of 92.
The pair’s 292-run partnership is the highest for India for any wicket and the 2nd best in the history of women’s Test.
🚨 WORLD RECORD 🚨
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma now have 2nd Highest Partnership in Women’s Test history. #CricketTwitter #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/Yyon70lLxV
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 28, 2024
2nd Highest partnership for any wicket in TESTs:
Denise Annetts, Lindsay Reeler (Australia) 309 vs England, Wetherby 1987
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma 292 (India) vs South Africa, Chennai 2024
Thirush Kamini, Punam Raut (India) 275 vs South Africa, Mysore 2014
Louise Broadfoot, Karen Rolton (Australia) 253 vs England, Leeds 2001
Kiran Baluch, Sajjida Shah (Pakistan) 241 vs West Indies, Karachi 2004