[Watch] Shafali Verma Hammers Historic Fifty Against Malaysia In Asian Games
Shafali Verma scored 67 off 39 [X.com]
Led by stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana, India faced off against Malaysia in the quarter-finals for the ongoing Asian Games in China.
The match ended in a no-result after being abandoned due to persistent rains at Hangzhou, witnessed scintillating batting from Indian batter Shafali Verma.
Verma, in particular, was the highlight of India's innings, where the 19-year-old scored an attacking fifty.
Verma started hitting bowlers for runs from the get-go and scored 22 runs in a partnership of 57 with Mandhana before the first rain interruption. With the match reduced to 15 overs, India's Under-19 World Cup-winning T20I captain switched her gear and raced to a historic half-century in 31 balls.
Verma, already the youngest player to play international cricket for India and amass 1,000 T20I runs, also became the first Indian batter to record a half-century in the Asian Games.
The young batter reached her landmark milestone in the 10th over, striking Winifred Duraisingam for a massive six down the ground just one ball into the over.
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Verma, heading into the Asian Games, suffered poor outings against Bangladesh in three T20I series, scoring just 30 runs.
However, Verma proved her worth with the ball, claiming four wickets, including a match-changing spell in the 2nd T20I, picking 3 for 15.
Overall, 60 T20Is, the Delhi Capitals player has accumulated 1,430 runs with six half-centuries and ten scalps. Verma will next be in action when India plays on September 24.
 "Vishal Mehra")
