CHENNAI: A maiden double century from Shafali Verma and a century from Smriti Mandhana powered India to a record-breaking total on Day 1 of the one-off Test against the Proteas Women at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday.
Verma hit eight sixes and 23 fours to achieve a career-best score of 205 off 197 balls. Her opening partner, Mandhana, scored 149 runs off 161 balls (27 fours, 1 six), helping India post 525/4 in 98 overs—the highest innings total in a single day’s play in Test cricket.
South Africa’s all-rounder Delmi Tucker was the standout bowler of the day, finishing with figures of 2/141 in 26 overs.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Verma and Mandhana displayed masterful batting in the first session, propelling the host nation to 130/0 at lunch, with both batters reaching their fifties.
Continuing their dominance, Mandhana quickly reached her second Test century, soon followed by Verma, who celebrated her maiden hundred.
The pair added crucial runs in favourable batting conditions before Tucker broke the partnership by dismissing Mandhana for 149, ending a massive 292-run stand for the first wicket..
Although Verma lost her more experienced opening partner, the 20-year-old combined effectively with Satheesh Shubha (15) and Jemimah Rodrigues (55) to help India reach the 400-run mark as Verma celebrated her double-ton.
Following the departure of Shubha off the bowling of Nadine de Klerk (1/62), Verma’s outstanding knock was eventually brought to an end through a run-out after a mix-up with Rodrigues to leave the home side 411/3.
Shortly after reaching her own milestone with a third career half-century, Rodrigues was the next wicket to fall with Tucker dismissing the middle-order batter for a 94-ball 55 (8 fours).
Rodrigues’ wicket proved to be the last moment of joy for the South Africans as Harmanpreet Kaur (42*) and Richa Ghosh (53*) added an unbeaten 75-run stand for the fifth wicket to end Day 1 on a commanding 525/4.
The second day of the contest will begin on Saturday, 29 June at 09h30, with the action broadcast live on SuperSport Grandstand (Ch. 201).
Audio and video of the pre-match press conference featuring Proteas Women all-rounder Delmi Tucker may be downloaded here.
Proteas Women ODI and Test Squad – Outbound Tour to India (16 June – 09 July)
Laura Wolvaardt (Captain) (Fidelity Titans), Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World LIons), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), *Mieke de Ridder (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Marizanne Kapp (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions) (ODI Squad Only), Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), *Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), *Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Delmi Tucker (World Sports Betting Western Province)
Fixtures – Proteas Women’s Outbound Tour to India (16 June – 09 July)
One-off Test:
Friday, 28 June – Monday, 01 July @ 06h00: India vs South Africa (M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai)
T20 International Series:
Friday, 05 July @ 15h30 – 1st T20I: India vs South Africa (M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai)
Sunday, 07 July @ 15h30 – 2nd T20I: India vs South Africa (M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai)
Tuesday, 09 July @ 15h30 – 3rd T20I: India vs South Africa (M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai)
All times are South African Standard Time (SAST)
Source: cricket.co.za
Kepler Wessels: Kepler Wessels is a South African-Australian former cricket player who has represented South Africa as well as Australia in international cricket. He has also captained the South African national team. Wessels has also played an influential role as a coach, working with popular teams like Chennai Super Kings of the Indian Premier League.
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