IND-W vs SA-W One-Off Test: Shafali, Sneh Rana Star in Ten-Wicket Victory Over South Africa Women

Chennai: Shefali Verma’s stunnimg double century and an amazing ten wicket haul by Sneh Rana guided India Women to a historical 10-wicket victory against South Africa Women in the lone test match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday.

After declaring the first innings at a formidable 603 for six and reducing the visitors to 266, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team seemed poised for an innings victory. However, resilient centuries from Sune Luus and Laura Wolvaardt helped South Africa Women stay afloat.

Nadine de Klerk’s determined fifty kept the Proteas in the game, forcing the hosts to bat again. Shubha Sateesh and Shafali Verma saw India through without much fuss within 10 overs to seal another home win.

After South Africa bundled out for 373 in their second innings after facing a follow-on , Shafali Verma and Shubha Satheesh took India home in just 9.2 overs in the final hour of the Test match. Shefali, who smashed a record breaking double century, remained not-out on 24, on the other hand, Sateesh went unbeaten on 13.

The game saw several records being broken and registered. Shefali and Smriti stitched a humongous partnership of 292 runs, which turned out to be the highest opening partnership in the world. Shafali Verma made history by becoming the second Indian woman, after Mithali Raj, to hit a double century. She also set a record as the fastest to achieve a double ton in the first innings. The young opener took just 194 balls to her double century, breaking Annabel Sutherland’s record of 248 balls.

India posted a record-breaking 603/6 declared in the first innings, the highest score in women’s Test cricket. In response, the Proteas managed just 266, with Marizanne Kapp’s 74 being the standout performance. Enforcing the follow-on, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team faced a stronger resistance from South Africa in their second innings.

Skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus scored resilient centuries, taking the Proteas to 373 and setting India a target of 37. Sneh Rana picked eight wickets in the first innings and became the third women’s player to scalp eight in an innings. She took two more in the second innings, becoming the second Indian and 12th overall with 10 wickets in a match. Later, the Women in Blue chased down the 37-run target easily.