Smriti Mandhana after completing her century vs South Africa; Shafali Verma applauds.© AFP
Chennai:
Indian pair of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana on Friday recorded the highest opening partnership in women’s Test cricket, sharing a commendable 292-run stand on the opening day of the one-off Test against South Africa here. Shafali and Smriti thus surpassed the 241-run opening stand by Pakistan’s Sajjida Shah and Kiran Baluch against West Indies in Karachi in 2004. It was also the second highest partnership in Women’s Test for any wicket, behind the 309-run stand between Australian pair of LA Reeler and DA Annetts for the third wicket against England in Wetherby in 1987.
Shafali and Smriti thus went past their previous best opening stand of 167 against England in Bristol in 2021.
The duo thus also eclipsed the previous highest Indian partnership for any wicket — 275 by Poonam Raut and Thirush Kamini against South Africa in Mysore 2014.
The opening pair looked in ominous touch during their authoritative stand, which ended after Smriti fell short of her 150 by a run after being dismissed by Delmi Tucker.
Shafali, however, became the fourth Indian after Mithali Raj, Kamini and Snadhya Agarwal to amass a 150-plus score.
At Tea, India Women were at 334 for two in 60.0 overs with Shafali batting on 165. Satheesh Shubha (15) was the second wicket to fall.
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