Xtra Time Web Desk: Indian women teenage cricketer Shefali Verma made a sensational test debut as she missed a well deserved hundred by a whisker. 17 year old Shefali slammed 96 runs off 152 balls on Day 2 of the one off test against England women at the county cricket ground in Bristol on Thursday. Her knock was studded with 13 fours and two big sixes. Shefali was also involved in a partnership of 167 runs with Smriti Mandhana for the first wicket. Shefali missed out on a well deserved hundred trying to be a little adventurous as she was holed out in the deep for 96 off Kate Cross.
Shefali joined Alyssa Jean Healy and Lauren Winfield-Hill, to have hit two sixes in a test innings. Shefali is now the highest scorer on debut in Indian women’s test cricket. The previous highest was the 75 by Chanderkanta Kaul against New Zealand at Nelson in Feb 1995.
Shefali also became the second youngest to score a fifty on test debut in women’s cricket. South African Johmari Logtenberg (74) is the youngest at 14y-166 vs England at Shenley in 2003.
Earlier in the day, England women posted a huge 396/9 declared. Captain Heather Knight top scored with 95 runs. Sneh Rana was the most successful Indian bowler with 4/131. In reply India women have scored 187/5 with Shefali scoring 96 (152) and Smriti Mandhana registering 78 runs. India women still trails by 209 runs.