Shafali Verma’s fastest double-century and Smriti Mandhana’s career-best score assert India’s dominance on record-breaking Day 1 as they go past the 500-run mark.
The Indian women’s team led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur is hosting the South African women’s team led by skipper Laura Wolvaardt for an all-format series that includes a three-match ODI series followed by a one-off Test match and then a three-match T20I series. The series commenced on 16th June 2024 and will conclude on 9th July 2024.
India whitewashed South Africa (3-0) in the three-match ODI series. The caravan now moves on to the red-ball format, the one-off Test match that will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, in Chennai. The venue is hosting a women’s Test match after 48 years. The last time a women’s Test match was played at this venue, was way back in November 1976 against the West Indies.
Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and opted to bat first. South Africa handed the debut cap to the 23-year-old all-rounder Annerie Dercksen. The Indian openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana got off to a cautious start, taking their time to assess the conditions. Both the openers grew in confidence and switched gears as the innings went on.
The swashbuckling duo went on to build a massive 292-run opening stand, the highest opening partnership in a women’s Test match. It is also the 2nd highest partnership for any wicket in a women’s Test match. They also went past India’s Thirush Kamini and Punam Raut’s 275-run 2nd wicket partnership against South Africa at Mysore in 2014, to hold the record for the highest partnership for any wicket for India in a Women’s Test match.
The 27-year-old off-spinner Delmi Tucker picked up the wicket of Smriti Mandhana to provide the much-needed first breakthrough for South Africa. The Indian vice-captain notched up her career-best score (149 off 161 balls) at the international level before getting dismissed. Shubha Satheesh joined Shafali Verma at the crease and the duo stitched a 33-run partnership for the 2nd wicket. Nadine de Klerk picked up the wicket of Shubha Satheesh to provide the 2nd breakthrough for her side.
Jemimah Rodrigues joined Shafali Verma at the crease and the duo stitched another crucial 86-run partnership for the 4th wicket, taking India past the 400-run mark, and taking further control of the game on the 1st day. Shafali Verma was found short of her crease to provide the much-needed 3rd breakthrough for South Africa. The 20-year-old opening batter Shafali Verma (205 off 197 balls) broke multiple records en route to her maiden double-century in the red-ball format. She scored the fastest double-century in a women’s Test match, reaching the landmark in just 194 balls. She is also only the 2nd Indian to score a double century in the red-ball format, after former Indian skipper Mithali Raj.
A Knock to Remember by Shafali Verma 😍
205 Runs | 23×4 8×6 | SR: 104.06#CricketTwitter #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/dSyEKUItQ6
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 28, 2024
India eventually ended the day’s play at 525/4 in 98 overs, the highest-ever total at the end of the first day’s play in a men’s or a women’s Test match. Wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh (43 off 33 balls) has joined skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (42 off 76 balls), at the crease and the duo are marching along with an unbeaten 75-run 5th wicket partnership.