Shafali Verma on Sunday (June 21) became the first Indian cricketer to open the innings with both bat and ball in a Women’s T20 World Cup match. The 22-year-old scored a quickfire 31 (15) at the top of the order in the first innings of the crucial match against South Africa before taking the new ball in the second innings, conceding only nine runs from her two overs in the powerplay.
Overall in women’s T20Is, Amita Sharma did it the most times for India, eight, followed by Rumeli Dhar, twice, and Shikha Pandey, once. None had done it in the T20 World Cup, where Shafali broke ground.
Hers was a near-optimal execution of what a team needs from a T20 all-rounder. On a sluggish pitch at Old Trafford, Manchester, Shafali maximised the field restrictions
to give India a good platform. Then, Harmanpreet Kaur trusted her to open the bowling so she could save her lead spinners for the middle-overs, and Shafali didn’t let Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits get away with her tight lengths and speed variations.
India post 158/7 in the first innings
India endured a middle-order collapse before recovering to post 158/7, with poor shot selection at key moments failing the team on the two-paced surface. After a brisk 30-run opening stand, Smriti Mandhana fell for 17, bowled by Marizanne Kapp. Shafali counterattacked with four fours and a six, but was undone by a sharp Shabnim Ismail delivery.
Pressure started to mount when Yastika Bhatia (15) was trapped lbw by Ayabonga Khaka, while Jemimah Rodrigues (12) fell to Nadine de Klerk’s, seeing India slump from 54/0 to 83/4.
Harmanpreet, playing her landmark 200th T20I, and all-rounder Deepti Sharma steadied the innings with a 33-run stand for the fifth wicket. Harmanpreet made 24 before chopping on against Ismail, while Deepti contributed a crucial 29 off 21 balls with three boundaries. Richa Ghosh added 15 but failed to capitalise on her start.
