Shefali Verma and Smriti Mandhana Break Records in Women’s Test Cricket

During the first day of the only Test between India and South Africa women at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, openers Shefali Verma and Smriti Mandhana recorded the highest opening partnership in women’s Test cricket. They built a record 292-run partnership in 312 balls.

Mandhana scored a marvellous 149 runs in 161 balls, hitting 27 fours and a six. Shefali Verma played a magnificent innings of 205 runs off 197 balls, with 23 fours and eight sixes, before being run out in the 75th over.

With this inning, Shefali became the second Indian to score a double hundred in women’s Test cricket, following former skipper Mithali Raj’s 214 runs against England 22 years ago. Shefali fell short by 38 runs of the highest individual Test score in women’s cricket, held by Kiran Baluch with 242 runs.

India’s skipper Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bat first. Team India scored 525 runs for the loss of four wickets in 98 overs. Other notable contributions came from Jemimah Rodrigues (55 runs), Harmanpreet Kaur (42* runs), and Richa Ghosh (43* runs).

For South Africa, right-arm off-spinner Delmi Tucker took two wickets, conceding 141 runs in 26 overs, while Nadine de Klerk took one wicket for 62 runs in 10 overs.