Mandhana, Shafali scripts highest 1st wicket partnership for India before team crumbles

Bristol, June 18: Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana scripted the highest opening stand for the India women’s team in Test cricket with their 167-run partnership against England team. Despite such runs coming in, India crumbled down as it lost five wickets for the addition of just 16 runs before ending the day at 187 for five.

 

 

Earlier in the day, the visitors had declared at 396/9 registering their sixth-highest total in all women's Tests. Mandhana and Shafali then got India off to a great start as the duo scored 63 runs together without losing a wicket before Tea. In the third session, Mandhana and Shafali continued their fine form and first brought up the 100-run stand and then registered India Women's highest opening stand in Tests.

 

 

The duo passed the 153-run partnership between Gargi Banerji and Sandhya Agarwal against Australia in Mumbai in 1984 It means that India are still trailing England by 209 runs with Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma (0) at the crease. Earlier, Punam Raut, skipper Mithali Raj, and Shikha Pandey all went cheaply as India wobbled at the end before the close of day's play.

 

 

Meanwhile, Shafali fell for 96, four runs short of what would have been a century on debut as India’s first wicket fell for 167 in the final session of Day 2. She was at her usual aggressive self as she cut and pulled in her own inimitable style. The 17-year-old not only presented the straight bat for defence with grace, she also hit a six off Nat Sciver with remarkable ease.