The Indian women’s cricket team is currently hosting South Africa for a multi-format series from June 16 to July 9. India swept the three-match One Day International (ODI) series 3-0. On Day 1 of the one-off, four-day red-ball Test match running from June 28 to July 1 in Chennai, the Indian opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma made an exceptional record, scoring the most partnership runs in Tests together with 831 runs.
The duo gave the India women’s team a dream start against the Proteas, scoring a record partnership of 292 runs. This partnership broke after Mandhana lost her wicket at 149 (161), continuing her excellent form from the ODI series. This marks her third century on this tour. Verma also scored her maiden international century and eventually crossed the 150-run mark.
The total partnership runs of 831 between Mandhana and Verma are the highest overall. The pair achieved this in nine innings from 2021 to 2024 with an average of 92.33, which also includes two centuries and four half-centuries.
Mandhana and Verma broke the earlier record of 691 runs set by England’s Janette Brittin and Carole Hodges during the 1984–1992-time frame.
🚨 RECORD PARTNERSHIP 🚨
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma now have the most partnership runs for India in Tests. #CricketTwitter #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/pJUiNTSChL
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 28, 2024
Most partnership runs in TESTs (Overall all wickets):
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma – 831 runs
Janette Brittin, Carole Hodges – 691 runs
Sandhya Agarwal, Gargi Banerji – 657 runs
Sandhya Agarwal, Sudha Shah – 573 runs
Denise Emerson, Peta Verco – 562 runs
After the one-off Test match, both teams will compete in three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) from July 5 to July 9, all taking place in Chennai.