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Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma Outshine England With Record-Breaking Opening Stand

Rajgeeta Yadav

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma break world record [Source: @im_Sairaj_/X.com]Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma break world record [Source: @im_Sairaj_/X.com]

India’s opening duo of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma made history during the first T20I match against England on June 28 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. They smashed a 77-run opening partnership, which not only gave India a strong start but also broke a long-standing world record.

Mandhana And Shafali Create History Against England

This partnership was the 21st fifty-plus stand between Mandhana and Shafali in T20 Internationals, the most by any pair in Women’s T20I history, breaking the previous record held by Australia’s Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney.

With regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur out injured, Smriti Mandhana led the side and rose to the occasion. She played a brilliant knock of 112 runs off just 62 balls, hitting boundaries all over the ground.

With this century, Mandhana became the first Indian woman cricketer to score a hundred in all three formats, Test, ODI, and T20I.

While Mandhana dominated the scoring, Shafali Verma supported her at the other end, scoring 20 runs from 22 balls before getting out in the ninth over. After Shafali’s departure, Harleen Deol joined the captain and smashed 43 off just 23 balls, helping India reach a huge total of 210/5, their second-highest in T20I history.

Debutant Shree Charani Destroys England

In the second innings, it was India’s bowlers who stole the show, especially debutant Shree Charani, who took 4 wickets for just 12 runs. Her incredible performance is now the second-best debut bowling figure by an Indian woman in T20Is.

England’s captain Nat Sciver-Brunt fought hard with a 66-run knock off 42 balls, but got no support from the rest of her team. England were bowled out for just 113 runs in 14.5 overs, suffering a massive 97-run defeat, their biggest T20I loss ever.

Team India now leads the three-match series 1-0 and will look to seal the series in the second T20I on July 1 at the Seat Unique Stadium.