In a historic feat, Indian opener Shafali Verma etched her name into the annals of women's Test cricket by smashing the record for the fastest double-century. Playing against South Africa in Chennai, the 20-year-old prodigy eclipsed the previous record held by Australia's Annabel Sutherland.
Verma's breathtaking knock of 205 runs came off just 194 deliveries, surpassing Sutherland's tally of 248 balls. Her exhilarating display of power hitting included 23 boundaries and eight towering sixes. With consecutive sixes off Delmi Tucker's off-spin, followed by a single, Verma reached the coveted milestone, becoming only the second Indian woman to score a double-century in Test cricket.
Former Indian captain Mithali Raj holds the distinction of being the first, having scored 214 runs off 407 balls against England in Taunton in 2002. Verma's remarkable achievement came as part of a dominant opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana, who also notched up an impressive 149 runs off 161 balls. Together, they forged a formidable alliance of 292 runs in just 52 overs, setting the stage for a strong Indian position against South Africa.
India's remarkable start was further enhanced by their impressive run rate of almost a run per ball on the opening day of the Test. Verma's record-breaking knock and Mandhana's substantial contribution have positioned India favorably in their quest for victory.
