Chennai, India
India’s Shafali Verma scripted a unique chapter in women’s cricket on Friday (June 28) against South Africa women after she scored the fastest double hundred in the format. Shafali, playing in her fifth Test match scored 205 off 197 balls before getting out, but made sure she wrote her name in the history books. She also became the second Indian woman to score a double hundred in the Test format after Mithali Raj, who did so in August 2002 against England in Taunton.
Shafali scripts history
Having decided to bat first after winning the toss, the decision proved to be right for India Women at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The opening pair of Smriti Mandaha (149) and Shafali put on 292 runs for the first opening wicket before the former was dismissed. However, 20-year-old Shafali continued her superb form to bring the fastest Test double hundred in the red-ball format. It took 194 balls for the Indian opener to reach the feat and claim the record to her name.
Her innings consisted of 23 fours and 8 huge sixes before she was the victim of poor running between the wickets in the 75th over and was run out. In doing so she also joined Mithali’s record of scoring a double hundred, when she amassed 214 against England. It took almost 22 years for another Indian woman to score the double ton, while she only missed out on breaking Mithali's record by 10 runs before being run out.
What happened on Day 1?
Batting first, India women ended Day 1 at 525/4 in 98 overs with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (42) and wicketkeeper batter Richa Ghosh (43) in the middle. The pair has put up 75 runs for the fifth wicket and will be eager to add more on Day 2 of the Test match. Jemimah Rodrigues with 55 runs also made a valuable addition to the score. India will now be looking to stamp their authority on the contest.