ENG W vs IND W | Test: Shafali Verma becomes first Indian woman to hit two fifty-plus scores on Test debut
Shafali Verma’s dream debut continued as she etched her name once again in record books, this time, by not breaking any record, but by creating something of her own. With a fifty in the second innings in the one-off Test against England in Bristol, she became the only Indian and fourth woman in world cricket to hit two fifty-plus scores in her debut Test.
Still unbeaten on 55, she would now be eying the record for most runs in debut Test by a woman, which is currently held by Lesley Cooke of England with 189 runs in her debut Test, which she played in 1986 against India Women in Weatherby. With this 55 added to her 96 of the first innings, Verma has so far aggregated 151 runs, which is the second highest on debut for any woman cricketer.
Following on in the Test after getting bundled out for 233 in the first innings, India were 83-1 when an early Tea had to be taken due to rain. Along with Verma, Deepti Sharma, who remained unbeaten in the first innings was at the crease, playing on 18.
Earlier, scoring 96 in the first innings, Verma broke Chandrakanta Kaul's record for most runs in debut Test innings for India Women. She also recorded the highest opening partnership for India Women in Tests along with Smriti Mandhana when the duo added 167 for the first wicket in the first innings of the ongoing Test.
 "Abhishek Singh")
