Shafali Verma becomes fastest woman double-centurion in Test cricket

     Chennai, Jun 28 (PTI) Dashing India opener Shafali Verma smashed the fastest double-century in the history of women's Test cricket, eclipsing Annabel Sutherland of Australia during the one-off Test against South Africa here on Friday.
     Shafali, 20, scored her double ton off just 194 balls, bettering Sutherland's feat, which came off 248 balls against South Africa earlier this year.
     Shafali also became the second Indian after former skipper Mithali Raj to hit a double century in Test cricket after almost 22 long years.
     Mithali's 214 had come off 407 balls and the former India skipper had achieved it during the drawn second Test against England at Taunton in August, 2002.
     Shafali struck 23 fours and eight maximums during her attacking knock.
     She brought up her double-ton with consecutive sixes of off-spinner Delmi Tucker, followed by a single.
     Shafali was finally run out at 205 off 197 balls.
     Asked if she knew what the highest individual score for India was in women's Tests, Shafali replied: "If I had known, I'd have tried to go higher (laughs). Whatever was in my range, I wanted to hit it. Smriti (Mandhana) was also telling me to attack whenever I wanted and that really helped.
     "I always enjoy my range hitting and try and back my strengths. Smriti always tells me to follow my instincts, especially when playing against the spinners."
     Besides, her opening partner Mandhana also made an attacking 149 off 161 balls wit the help of 27 boundaries and one six to stitch a formidable opening partnership of 292 runs, which came off in just 52 overs.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)