In Women’s Cricket, India secured a dominant 10-wicket win over South Africa in the one-off Test match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday (1st July 2024) afternoon.

A report:

In the first innings, India displayed a stunning batting efforts, putting up a record total of 603 runs for the loss of six wickets, with Shafali Verma scoring her maiden double century and Smriti Mandhana posting a blistering century. In reply, South Africa Women started strongly but were bowled out for 266 runs with the help Sneh Rana’s eight wicket haul and got imposed the follow-on.

The visitors batted well in the second innings as well with Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus scoring century, but Proteas were all out for 373. Despite their efforts in the both innings they could only get a lead of 36 runs. Deepti Sharma, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Sneh Rana shared two wickets each.

In reply, the Women in Blue chased down a paltry second innings target of 37 runs with ease on Day 4 of the game today.

The game witnessed multiple entries into cricket’s record books by India. With first inning score of 603 runs, India posted the highest total in Women’s Test Cricket and became the first ever team to surpass the 600-mark in first-class cricket. Shafali Varma and Smriti Mandhana scripted history in the first innings by stitching a partnership of 292 runs, the highest opening partnership in the world. In a standout performance Shafali scored 205 to become the fastest double centurion in Women’s Test history. The young opener took only 194 balls to reach her double ton, breaking Australia’s Annabel Sutherland’s record of 248 balls. Another record went into the kitty of Sneh Rana who became only the third bowler to bag an eight-wicket haul in Women’s Tests.

India will now face South Africa in the upcoming three-match T20 International series, starting from 5th of July in Chennai.

Earlier, India registered a dominant 3-nil win in the three-match ODI series against Proteas in Bengaluru.