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Shabnim Ismail scripted history as she bowled the fastest delivery in women's cricket after clocking a blistering speed of 132.1 kph during a Women's Premier League (WPL) clash between the Mumbai Indians (MI) and the Delhi Capitals (DC). This incredible feat, achieved in a match played in Delhi on Tuesday, March 5, marked the first time a female bowler has broken the 130 kph mark in the sport's recorded history.
Shabnim Ismail records fastest delivery in women's cricket history
The delivery, clocking at an impressive 132.1 km/h, not only highlighted Ismail's extraordinary skill but also broke all previous records to establish a new global benchmark for the fastest ball ever delivered in women's cricket. Despite experiencing what she termed as an "off day," where she gave up 46 runs over her four overs and took just a single wicket, Ismail's record-breaking performance stood out as a significant achievement, overshadowing her overall game day stats.
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Meg Lanning faces Ismail's fastest ball
In the first innings' third over, Ismail made cricket history with a delivery aimed at Meg Lanning of the Delhi Capitals. The fast ball struck Lanning on the pads, leading to a not-out call. At the time, Ismail was unaware of her groundbreaking speed, revealing during the mid-innings interval that she had not seen the big screen while delivering and was, therefore, unaware of her record speed.
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Ismail continues do dazzle
In the first match of WPL 2024, Ismail had already turned heads with a swift 128.3kph delivery. However, an injury briefly sidelined her, only for her to return with a bang in Tuesday's game. Beyond her exploits in the WPL, Ismail is no stranger to setting records; she previously achieved the fastest delivery in international women's cricket at 128kph against the West Indies in 2016 and surpassed the 127kph mark on two occasions during the 2022 ODI World Cup, cementing her status as one of the top fast bowlers internationally.
In the same game, under the leadership of Meg Lanning and with a notable performance by Jemimah Rodrigues, who both scored impressive half-centuries, the Delhi Capitals secured a 29-run victory over the Mumbai Indians in a crucial encounter at the top of the WPL standings. The match, which saw the WPL action shift to Delhi, ended with DC setting a formidable score of 192 for 4, despite a muted spectator response. The Mumbai Indians, chasing the target, finished at 163 for 8, with notable contributions from Amanjot Kaur and Hayley Matthews.
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