Shafali Verma became the second Indian woman to score a double century in Test cricket. The 20-year-old achieved this milestone on Day 1 of the Only Test IND-W vs SA-W at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Shafali reached her double hundred off 194 balls during the third session of the day’s play at Chepauk. The first Indian woman to achieve this feat was the legendary Mithali Raj, who scored a double ton against England in 2002 in Taunton.
Shafali’s innings of 205 runs off 197 balls included 23 fours and 8 sixes. Her knock also secured the seventh-highest individual score in Women’s Test cricket and the second highest by an Indian woman, just after Mithali’s 214. Unfortunately, her remarkable innings ended when she was run out at the striker’s end, following a hesitant run that left her short of the crease.
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Earlier in the match, Shafali also became the youngest Indian to reach 500 Test runs and the second youngest to score a Test hundred after Mithali Raj. The day saw Shafali and Smriti Mandhana set a new record for the highest opening partnership in the history of Women’s Tests, amassing 292 runs off 52 overs. Shafali reached her fifty off 60 balls and then her maiden Test hundred off 158 deliveries. Post-lunch, she accelerated her scoring rate to reach her double century.
Despite Mandhana’s dismissal, Shafali continued to play her shots confidently. She appeared poised to surpass Mithali’s record score of 214 before being run out. Replays confirmed that she was far from making her ground when Sinalo Jafta dislodged the bails. Nevertheless, Shafali received a rousing ovation from the crowd in IND-W vs SA-W match at Chepauk celebrating her extraordinary achievement.