INDW vs SAW: Shafali Verma creates history! Smashes fastest double century in Tests

INDW vs SLW: Indian women's cricket team's star opener, Shafali Verma, made history on Friday. She became the fastest player to score a double century in women's Test cricket. This incredible performance took place during the one-off Test match against South Africa in Chennai. The 20 years old, reached her double century in just 194 balls. She broke the previous record held by Annabel Sutherland, who had achieved a double century in 248 balls earlier this year.

Following the footsteps of legend

Shafali's achievement makes her only the second Indian woman to score a double century in Test cricket. The first was former captain Mithali Raj, who scored 214 runs off 407 balls in a Test match against England at Taunton 22 years ago. Shafali’s innings was a display of aggressive and powerful batting. She hit 23 fours and eight huge sixes. She reached her 200-run milestone by hitting two consecutive sixes off South African off-spinner Delmi Tucker and then a single to cement her place in the record books.

🤯 Fastest double-hundred in women's Tests by Shafali Verma!
🔥 Third 💯 in four matches for Smriti Mandhana.
💥 292 - Record-highest opening stand in women's Tests.

India openers gave an incredible start in Chennai against South Africa!#INDvSA | 🔗: https://t.co/WGsjkNw98R pic.twitter.com/814ZYKAOGp

— ICC (@ICC) June 28, 2024

Unfortunate runout

Shafali’s impressive innings ended when she was run out at 205 off 197 balls due to a mix-up with her batting partner, Jemimah Rodrigues. Although she missed setting the record for the highest individual score by an Indian woman in a Test match, her 205 runs are still the seventh-highest score in women’s Test cricket history. The world record for the highest individual score in women’s Test cricket is held by Pakistan’s Kiran Baluch, who scored 242 runs against the West Indies in 2004.

2⃣0⃣5⃣ runs
1⃣9⃣7⃣ deliveries
2⃣3⃣ fours
8⃣ sixes

WHAT. A. KNOCK 👏👏

Well played @TheShafaliVerma!

Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/4EU1Kp6YTG#TeamIndia | #INDvSA | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/UTreiCRie6

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) June 28, 2024

Powerful partnership with Smriti Mandhana

Shafali’s outstanding performance was matched by her opening partner, Smriti Mandhana. Mandhana scored an impressive 149 runs off 161 balls, hitting 27 boundaries and one six. Together, they formed a formidable opening partnership, scoring 292 runs in just 52 overs. This partnership set a new record for the highest opening stand in women’s Test cricket, surpassing the previous record of 241 runs set by Pakistan's Sajjida Shah and Kiran Baluch against the West Indies in Karachi in 2004.

Smriti Mandhana’s stellar performance

Smriti Mandhana has been in excellent form throughout the series against South Africa. In the ODI series before the Test match, she scored two centuries and a fifty, leading India to a brilliant 3-0 series sweep. Her consistent performance has been crucial to India’s success, and her partnership with Shafali Verma in the Test match showcased the strength of India’s batting lineup.