The Indian women's cricket team rewrote the record books on the opening day of the one-off Test against South Africa in Chennai. Their mammoth total of 525 runs stands as the highest ever recorded in a single day of a Test match, surpassing both men's and women's records.
Shafali Verma, with a career-defining 205 (197 balls), and the in-form Smriti Mandhana (149, 167 balls) were the architects of this historic feat.
India also shattered their own record for the highest innings total in a women's Test match. Their previous best of 467, set against England in 2002, has been significantly surpassed. This score also puts them in contention to challenge the all-time record for the highest Test innings total – Australia's 575 – on day two.
Verma's double ton marks another milestone. She becomes only the second Indian and tenth player globally to achieve this feat in women's Test cricket. Additionally, her knock of 205 came in just 194 balls, setting a new record for the fastest double century in women's Test history.
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Most runs in a day’s play in Women’s Tests
525 - India Women (525/4 in 98 overs) vs South Africa, 2024 - Chennai
475 - New Zealand Women (44) v England Women (431-4), 1935 - Christchurch
449 - Australia Women (204-5) v England Women (245-9), 2022 - Canberra
410 - India Women (410-7) v England Women, 2023 - Navi Mumbai
India dominated the first day of the Test against South Africa, putting themselves in a commanding position. Winning the toss and electing to bat, openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma tore apart the South African bowling attack.
The duo stitched together a record-breaking 292-run partnership, the highest for any opening pair in women's Test cricket. The South African bowlers struggled to find any breakthroughs as Mandhana and Verma feasted on the bowling. Mandhana fell just one run short of a well-deserved 150, while Verma went on to score a blazing double century (205).
Even after the openers departed, the Indian batting continued to flourish. Jemimah Rodrigues stepped up with a crucial fifty (55), frustrating the Proteas bowlers further. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur provided valuable support at the other end, anchoring the innings alongside Rodrigues.
India ended Day 1 on a massive total of 525/4. The only bright spots for South Africa were the two wickets taken by Klerk and Tucker, with the third dismissal being a run-out. With a dominant batting performance and a commanding lead, the Indian women's cricket team heads into Day 2 firmly in control.
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