On a remarkable Friday at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium, young Indian opener Shafali Verma etched her name in the annals of cricket history with a record-breaking double century against South Africa in the one-off Test match.
Shafali’s Spectacular Innings
A New Record Holder
- Shafali scored 205 runs off just 194 balls
- Broke the record for fastest double century in women’s Test cricket
- Previous record: Annabel Sutherland (Australia) – 248 balls
Milestone Achievements
- Second Indian woman to score a Test double century after Mithali Raj
- Hit 23 boundaries and 8 sixes
- Previous Test best was 96 runs
India’s Dominant Day
Team Records Tumble
- India scored 525/4 in a single day
- Broke the 89-year-old record of 431/2 set by England in 1935
- First team to cross 500 runs in a single day of women’s Test cricket
Powerful Partnerships
- Shafali and Smriti Mandhana’s 292-run opening partnership
- India’s highest partnership for any wicket in women’s Tests
- Second-highest partnership in women’s Test cricket history
Other Notable Performances
Smriti Mandhana’s Contribution
- Scored 149 runs
- Her personal best in Test cricket (previous best: 127)
Supporting Cast
- Jemimah Rodrigues: 55 runs
- Harmanpreet Kaur: 42 not out
- Richa Ghosh: 43 not out
The Match Situation
Winning the Toss
- India elected to bat first
- Took full advantage of familiar conditions
South Africa’s Struggles
- Inexperienced bowling attack
- Spinners particularly struggled on the easy-paced pitch
Breaking Down the Day’s Play
Morning Session
- India raced to 130/0 at lunch
- Set the tone for the day’s dominance
Afternoon Session
- Both Shafali and Mandhana reached their centuries
- Partnership grew to 292 runs before Mandhana’s dismissal
Evening Session
- Shafali completed her historic double century
- India continued to pile on the runs
The Significance of the Achievement
For Shafali Verma
- Youngest Indian to score a Test double century
- Showcased her ability to convert aggressive batting to the long format
For Indian Women’s Cricket
- Demonstrates the team’s growing prowess in Test cricket
- Sets a new benchmark for batting performance
In the Context of Women’s Cricket
- Pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in women’s Test cricket
- Likely to inspire future generations of cricketers
Looking Ahead
The Rest of the Match
- Strong position for India to push for a victory
- Challenge for South Africa to respond to this massive total
Future Prospects
- Shafali’s innings could be a career-defining moment
- Potential for more records to be broken as the match progresses