Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma script history, register highest opening partnership in women's test cricket history

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma also smashed the highest partnership for India in women’s test cricket.

India women’s team openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma scripted history as the duo registered the highest opening partnership in women’s test cricket till now. The Indian pair achieved the feat during the one-off test against South Africa at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on June 28.

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Indian openers Smriti and Shafali showed no mercy to South African bowlers. At lunch, the duo reached 130/0 in 28 overs, with Shafali batting at 65 and Mandhana at 64.

After the lunch break, the Indian opening batters didn’t stop there as Shafali notched up her maiden test ton in just 113 deliveries. The 20-year-old batter broke the record of fastest hundred in women’s test cricket, which was previously held by England’s Janette Brittin, who scored a 137-ball ton against Australia women in 1984.

Her teammate and opener Smriti, also notched up her fantastic century off just 122 balls and moved to the second spot in the list of fastest hundreds in women’s test cricket.

The Indian openers continued to dominate the South African bowling attack as they reached 271/0 in 50 overs of the first innings. However, Proteas spinner Delmi Tucker provided the first breakthrough when she dismissed Mandhana in the 52nd over of India’s first innings.

Mandhana fell short by just one run to reach the 150-run landmark. The stylish left-hander scored 149 runs in just 161 deliveries, including 27 boundaries and one six. Mandhana and Shafali shared a 292-run opening stand, which is now the highest ever partnership for the opening wicket in women’s test cricket history.

Shafali and Smriti broke the record of former Pakistan women’s team openers Kiran Baluch and Sajjida Shah, who had registered a 241-run partnership in 2004. Kiran Baluch and Sajjida Shah added 241 runs for the first wicket during the match against the West Indies women’s cricket team in Karachi on March 15, 2004.

Smriti and Shafali also registered the highest partnership for India in women’s test cricket. A record which was previously held by the pair of Thirush Kamini and Punam Raut, who registered a 275-run stand against South Africa women in 2014.

Here are some of the records broken by Smriti and Shafali in the ongoing match

1. Highest opening partnerships in women’s tests

• 292 – Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Varma (IND) vs South Africa (Chennai, 2024)
• 241 – Kiran Baluch and Sajjida Shah (PAK) vs West Indies (Karachi, 2004)
• 200 – Caroline Atkins and Arran Brindle (ENG) vs India (Lucknow, 2002)

2. Highest opening partnerships for India in women’stests

• 292 – Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Varma vs South Africa (Chennai, 2024)
• 167 – Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Varma vs England (Bristol, 2021)
• 153 – Sandhya Agarwal and Gargi Banerjee vs Australia (Wankhede, 1984)

3. Fastest hundreds in women’s tests

• 113 balls – Shafali Verma (IND) vs South Africa (Chennai, 2024)
• 122 balls – Smriti Mandhana (IND) vs South Africa (Chennai, 2024)
• 137 balls – Janette Brittin (ENG) vs Australia (Perth, 1984)
• 146 balls – Laura Newton (ENG) vs New Zealand (Scarborough, 2004)
• 148 balls – Annabel Sutherland (AUS) vs England (Nottingham, 2023)

4. Highest partnership for any wicket by India in women’s tests

• 292 – Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Varma vs South Africa, 2024 (Opening wicket)
• 275 – Thirush Kamini and Punam Raut (IND) vs South Africa, 2014 (2nd wicket)
• 167 – Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Varma vs England, 2021 (Opening wicket)

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