Chennai: As the entire country celebrated India’s march into the T20 World Cup final with a crushing 68-run win over England in Guyana, the women’s team provided more cheer on Friday.
In a sparkling batting display, the Indian women rattled up a staggering 525/4 on the opening day of the one-off Test against South Africa at Chennai.
It was the first time Indian women had surpassed 500 in a Test innings.
Individually, Shafali Varma notched up a terrific world record by scoring the fastest double century in a women’s test match.
The 20-year-old swashbuckling opener reached 200 off just 194 balls, thereby eclipsing Australian Annabel Sutherland’s record (248 balls) against South Africa earlier this year.
Shafali, who moved from 187 to 199 with back-to-back sixes, was eventually dismissed for 205 (197 balls, 23×4, 8×6).
She put on a record 292 runs for the first wicket with Smriti Mandhana, who made 149 off 161 deliveries (27×4, 1×6).
Shafali became only the second Indian, after former skipper Mithali Raj, to smash a double century in Tests. Mithali made a painstaking 214 off 407 balls in the drawn second Test against England at Taunton in August 2022.
