India racked up a record-breaking total on the first day of the one-off women’s Test against the Proteas on Friday.
Shafali Verma hit eight sixes and 23 fours in her career-best score of 205 off 197 balls, while opening partner Smriti Mandhana struck 149 off 161 balls (27 fours, one six) as India post 525-4 in 98 overs– the highest innings total in a single day’s play in Test cricket.
Proteas all-rounder Delmi Tucker picked up 2-141 in 26 overs.
After winning the toss in Chennai and electing to bat first, Verma and Mandhana propelled the hosts to 130-0 by lunch, with both batters reaching their fifties.
Mandhana quickly reached her second Test century, soon followed by Verma, who celebrated her maiden hundred.
Tucker eventually broke the 292-run partnership by dismissing Mandhana.
Verma then combined effectively with Satheesh Shubha (15) and Jemimah Rodrigues (55) to help India reach the 400-run mark as the 20-year-old 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 a third career half-century, Rodrigues fell to Tucker for 55 off 94 balls (eight fours).
That 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.
Photo: BCCI
