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XtraTime Web Desk: Three years ago on this day in 2017, India women cricketers Deepti Sharma and Punam Raut stitched a record partnership of 320 runs for the opening wicket against Ireland in Potchefstroom. Deepti scored 188 off 160 balls while Punam ended up scoring 108 runs off 116 balls.

India had a new opening pair in Deepti and Punam as regular opener Smriti Mandhana had to miss the quadrangular series owing to an injury she suffered in the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia. Both Deepti and Punam made full use of the opportunity as they made merry of the Irish bowling attack.

India batted first after winning the toss. Both Deepti and Punam started steadily, finding gaps at ease and hitting the bad delivery to the boundary.
Sharma reached her hundred with a boundary. Her innings was studded with 27 boundaries and 2 sixes. It was the maximum boundaries hit by a women cricketer at that time. Deepti Sharma’s 188 runs is the second highest individual score in women’s ODIs. Australia’s Belinda Clarke held the highest individual score of 229 runs.

Punam also reached her three figure mark. The duo was separated in the 46th over of the innings, not before they piled 320 runs. It was the highest opening partnership (both men’s and women’s cricket) in ODIs at that time until West Indians Shai Hope and John Campbell scored 356 runs a couple of years later also against Ireland.

India ended up scoring 356 runs on the board. In reply Ireland innings was bundled out for only 109 runs, giving India a victory margin by 247 runs. Left arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad (4-18) and Shikha Pandey (3-16) were the successful bowlers for India.