NEW DELHI: Swashbuckling India opener Shafali Verma on Friday rewrote record books, smashing the fastest double-century in the history of women’s Test cricket against South Africa in the one-off Test against South Africa in Chennai.
Smashing a double ton off just 194 balls, Shafali eclipsed Australia’s Annabel Sutherland, who scored a double ton off 248 balls against the same opposition earlier this year.
The double ton also helped Shafali second Indian after former skipper Mithali Raj to hit a double century in Test cricket after almost 22 long years. Mithali’s 214 had come off 407 balls and the former India skipper had achieved it during the drawn second Test against England at Taunton in August, 2002.
After scoring a sparkling double ton, the 20-year-old said she enjoyed her power-hitting and termed the knock as a ‘precious treasure’.
“It’s a special moment for me and I will savour it as a precious treasure for the rest of my life. It is my second favourite knock after the U-19 (T20) World Cup (title win),” news agency PTI quote Shafali as saying in the post-day press meet.
“I couldn’t convert the starts I gained in the ODIs (vs SA in Bengaluru). Today, my plan was to take my time as the ball was moving initially, and they were also bowling well,” said Shafali.
“I was backing my strength and tried to gradually settle down. With God’s grace, I have managed to get my first 100 and 200 at the same time, which is a tribute to my hard work, so really happy to contribute to the team.”
Shafali cracked 23 fours and eight sixes during her beadthtaking knock and brought up her double-ton with consecutive sixes of off-spinner Delmi Tucker, followed by a single.
The opener eventually got run out at 205 off 197 balls.
The ton was Shafali’s maiden international three-digit score across all three formats.
The 20-year-old’s previous best was 96 against England three years ago, and she admitted that there were a few jitters when she was in the 90s.
“No one forgets getting dismissed on 96, and I remembered that moment while I was on 96 (today). All I was thinking was to score those four runs. Even when I approached 200, I was trying to back myself,” she stated.
Shafali also credited the batters’ camp at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru before coming into the series against South Africa.
“I have practised a lot (at the camp) with both red and white balls, and it has helped me. The camp was fun as most batters were present there and we thoroughly enjoyed it,” she reckoned.
“The performance that you are seeing now…all thanks to that camp, and hopefully, it will continue going forward.”
Smashing a double ton off just 194 balls, Shafali eclipsed Australia’s Annabel Sutherland, who scored a double ton off 248 balls against the same opposition earlier this year.
The double ton also helped Shafali second Indian after former skipper Mithali Raj to hit a double century in Test cricket after almost 22 long years. Mithali’s 214 had come off 407 balls and the former India skipper had achieved it during the drawn second Test against England at Taunton in August, 2002.
After scoring a sparkling double ton, the 20-year-old said she enjoyed her power-hitting and termed the knock as a ‘precious treasure’.
“It’s a special moment for me and I will savour it as a precious treasure for the rest of my life. It is my second favourite knock after the U-19 (T20) World Cup (title win),” news agency PTI quote Shafali as saying in the post-day press meet.
“I couldn’t convert the starts I gained in the ODIs (vs SA in Bengaluru). Today, my plan was to take my time as the ball was moving initially, and they were also bowling well,” said Shafali.
“I was backing my strength and tried to gradually settle down. With God’s grace, I have managed to get my first 100 and 200 at the same time, which is a tribute to my hard work, so really happy to contribute to the team.”
Shafali cracked 23 fours and eight sixes during her beadthtaking knock and brought up her double-ton with consecutive sixes of off-spinner Delmi Tucker, followed by a single.
The opener eventually got run out at 205 off 197 balls.
The ton was Shafali’s maiden international three-digit score across all three formats.
The 20-year-old’s previous best was 96 against England three years ago, and she admitted that there were a few jitters when she was in the 90s.
“No one forgets getting dismissed on 96, and I remembered that moment while I was on 96 (today). All I was thinking was to score those four runs. Even when I approached 200, I was trying to back myself,” she stated.
Shafali also credited the batters’ camp at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru before coming into the series against South Africa.
“I have practised a lot (at the camp) with both red and white balls, and it has helped me. The camp was fun as most batters were present there and we thoroughly enjoyed it,” she reckoned.
“The performance that you are seeing now…all thanks to that camp, and hopefully, it will continue going forward.”
