India spin all-rounder Deepti Sharma on Sunday (June 14) became only the second cricketer to pick up 350 or more wickets in women’s internationals (across formats). Starting the match at 349 scalps, Deepti took two wickets for five runs in her first two overs against Pakistan to cross the 350 mark, leaving only the retired India legend Jhulan Goswami ahead of her in the list with 355 wickets.
Most wickets in women’s international cricket:
| Rank | Player | Country | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jhulan Goswami | India | 355 |
| 2 | Deepti Sharma* | India | 351 |
| 3 | Katherine Sciver-Brunt | England | 335 |
| 4 | Ellyse Perry | Australia | 332 |
| 5 | Sophie Ecclestone | England | 327 |
| 6 | Shabnim Ismail | South Africa | 318 |
It was a classic game-changing performance from Deepti.
Introduced in the fifth over, she provided India with the breakthrough they desperately needed after Pakistan’s openers had raced away to their highest opening stand against India in Women’s T20Is of 38 runs.
The off-spinner immediately affects the scoring rate with her variations in flight and pace.
She beat Muneeba Ali outside the off stump with her very first delivery, forced a couple of dot balls, and then struck a crucial blow.
Gull Feroza, looking to maintain the momentum, attempted a reverse sweep but failed to control it, offering a catch to Bharti Fulmali at backward point.
She returned in the seventh over and continued to apply the brakes. Pakistan had just crossed 50, and Ayesha Zafar had injected fresh momentum with two boundaries in the previous over, so Deepti responded by conceding only three runs while claiming another wicket.
After restricting Zafar with a tight line, she induced a sweep shot that found Smriti Mandhana at short fine leg, who completed a sharp low catch.
If the pitches continue to remain as slow and with as much purchase for spinners as the one at Edgbaston, Deepti would back herself to break Goswami’s record sooner than later, while also being India’s most important bowler in the competition.
