All-rounder Deepti Sharma became the first Indian to take 100 wickets and score 1,000 runs in women’s T20I cricket. Deepti became the joint-fastest to achieve the feat in her 103rd appearance in the format. She is the fourth to achieve the rare feat after New Zealand's Sophie Devine, Australia's Ellyse Perry, and Pakistan's Nida Dar.
Deepti reached the milestone with a boundary off Megan Schutt on the penultimate over of the innings. With a 27-ball 30, she has 1,001 runs in the format at an average of 23.83 including two half-centuries. Deepti’s 30-ball knock helped India post a respectable total of 130/8. She was run out on the final ball of the innings.
Deepti did damage with the ball as well. She broke the opening partnership with the wicket of Australian skipper Alyssa Healy. She got the opener's wicket with the first ball she bowled in the match. In her next over, she got Beth Mooney stumped. It was her final over that was expensive. Ellyse Perry started with an 80-metre six as she danced down the track to hit the ball over long-on. Phoebe Litchfield capped off the over with a boundary. The off-spinner conceded 22 runs from her four overs.
Also, Deepti is the only Indian bowler with 100 or more wickets in the format. She has 112 scalps at an average of 19.23. She is the eighth-highest wicket-taker in the format.
On the other hand, all-rounder Perry achieved a milestone as well. She became the first Australian player to play 300 international matches. She is only behind India's Mithali Raj (333), England's Charlotte Edwards (309), and New Zealand's Suzie Bates (309).
Perry contributed with an unbeaten cameo of 34 runs from 21 balls in the run chase of 131. She smashed two sixes and three fours during her stay at the crease. She finished the run chase in style with a maximum off Shreyanka Patil on the last ball of the penultimate over. Australia won the game by six wickets and six balls to spare and level the three-T20I series 1-1. The decider of the series will be played on January 9.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Rafael Nadal withdraws from Australian Open due to muscle micro tear
