Shafali Verma’s double century and a century from Smriti Mandhana helps India post a record breaking 525/4, the highest score in a single day by any women’s or men’s team in Test cricket history, on the first day of the IDFC First Bank Test match against South Africa at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, on Friday, 28 June, 2024.
A picturesque cricket ground buzzing with spectators and media set the stage as Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bat first. Two teams from cricketing nations that are noted for their prowess and talent, stepped out onto the field with a sense of pride and determination.
Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana batted off from where they had finished in the ODI series. It was like a normal day on the park for them as they steadily went after the Proteas bowling attack. India was 50/0 at the first drinks break of the day, leaving the SA bowlers crossed-eyed as to what they could do to break the partnership.
Verma and Mandhana kept the scoreboard ticking to put on 130 runs before lunch and, try as they might, the South Africa bowling was falling short.
The Proteas’ woes with the ball continued after lunch as Verma and Mandhana displayed impeccable technique and resilience to put on a sensational 292-run first wicket partnership, the first in the history of women’s matches in the longer format of the game.
Mandhana (149) was eventually caught at first slip by a remarkable quick reactive catch by Proteas debutant Annerie Dercksen off the bowling of Delmi Tucker, who is playing in her second Test match for the Proteas Women.
Verma who was joined by Satheesh Shubha (15) put on a 33-run partnership before Shubha was dismissed by a catch taken by ever-efficient Sinalo Jafta behind the stumps, off the bowling of Nadine de Klerk.
The South African camp breathed a sigh of relief as they claimed two wickets before tea. They needed the big wicket of Verma, but Verma was having none of that. The 20-year-old, who scored her maiden test century earlier, went on to score the fastest double century in the history of the women’s test cricket, off just 194 balls.
Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues put on an 86-run partnership before, before the agility and athleticism of Nonkululeko Mlaba had Verma (205) run out.
With India on 411/3, South Africa worked hard in the final session of day one to try and break the partnership that was building between Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur. That much-needed break came when Nadine de Klerk took a high-ended catch off the bowling of Tucker to dismiss the dangerous looking Rodrigues (55).
Kaur (42*) and Richa Ghosh (43*) put on a 75 runs before umpires called stumps on day one. India have comfortably won all three sessions of day one, accumulating a massive total of 525/4.
Delmi Tucker produced figures of 2/141, whilst Nadine de Klerk contributed with 1/62 as the SA bowling unit tried hard to break through the stands of the India batters.
Play with resume at 06h00 (SAST) on Saturday morning, and the match is broadcast live on SuperSport Grandstand (Ch 201).
Proteas Women XI
Laura Wolvaardt
Anneke Bosch
Suné Luus
Marizanne Kapp
Delmi Tucker
Nadine de Klerk
Sinalo Jafta
Annerie Dercksen
Tumi Sekhukhune
Masabata Klaas
Nonkululeko Mlaba
Indian Women XI
Shafali Verma
Smriti Mandhana
Satheesh Shubha
Jemimah Rodrigues
Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
Richa Ghosh (†)
Deepti Sharma
Pooja Vastrakar
Sneh Rana
Renuka Singh
Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Photo Caption: India posted a record 525/4, the highest score in a single day by any team in Test cricket history, on the first day of the IDFC First Bank Test match against South Africa at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, on Friday, 28 June, 2024.. Photo: Cricket South Africa
Photo 2 Caption: Delmi Tucker took the instrumental first wicket for the Proteas women, when opener Smriti Mandhana fell a run short of 150. Photo: Cricket SA
Photo 3 Caption: Annerie Dercksen received her maiden Test cap on Day one of the only test match between India and South Africa, on Friday, 28 June, 2024. Photo: Cricket SA
(0 rating, 0 votes, rated)
Loading...
