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Shafali Verma Breaks Record with Fastest Double Century in Women's Test Cricket
Indian opener Shafali Verma made history on Friday by becoming the fastest woman to score a double century in Test cricket. Playing against South Africa, the 20-year-old reached her double century in just 194 balls, surpassing Australia's Annabel Sutherland, who had set the previous record earlier this year with a 248-ball double century against South Africa.
Record-Breaking Feat:
Shafali's explosive innings included 23 fours and eight sixes. She completed her double century with a single after hitting two consecutive sixes off Delmi Tucker. Shafali was eventually run out for 205 off 197 balls, but not before she set multiple records.
Partnership Records:
Shafali found an able partner in Smriti Mandhana, who scored 149 runs off 161 balls, including 27 fours and one six. Together, they forged a 292-run partnership for the first wicket, a new record in women's Test cricket. This partnership eclipsed the previous record of 241 runs set by Pakistan's Sajida Shah and Kiran Baluch against the West Indies in 2004.
Historic Comparisons:
Shafali's double century is only the second by an Indian woman in Test cricket, following Mithali Raj's 214 against England in 2002. Additionally, their opening stand is the second-highest partnership for any wicket in women's Test cricket, behind the 309-run partnership between Australia's LA Reeler and DA Annetts against England in 1987.
Additional Achievements:
Shafali and Mandhana also surpassed their previous best partnership of 167 runs against England in Bristol in 2021. They broke the record for the highest partnership by an Indian pair in women's Test cricket, previously held by Poonam Raut and Thirush Kamini, who had a 275-run stand against South Africa in 2014.
Mandhana's dismissal by Delmi Tucker ended the partnership, but Shafali's innings ensured she joined an elite group of Indian women who have scored over 150 runs in a Test, including Mithali Raj, Thirush Kamini, and Sandhya Agarwal.
