In a historic return to the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai after 17,399 days, the India Women’s cricket team is facing South Africa Women in a one-off Test match.
India won the toss and chose to bat, with the opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma forming a formidable partnership. Both players crossed the 50-run mark, with Mandhana’s innings being particularly notable.
Smriti Mandhana Chennai Test vs South Africa
Smriti Mandhana now holds the record for the most boundaries by an Indian woman in Women’s Test cricket, surpassing Mithali Raj. Her achievement highlights her prowess and impact in the sport. Mandhana now has 88 fours to her name, edging past Raj’s 87. This achievement added a layer of excitement to an already thrilling day of cricket.
The list of most fours hit by Indian women in Tests now stands as follows:
- 88 – Smriti Mandhana
- 87 – Mithali Raj
- 54 – Shafali Verma
- 49 – Anjum Chopra
- 42 – Deepti Sharma
- 37 – Hemlata Kala
In addition to breaking the boundary record, Mandhana also reached a significant career milestone. She became only the second Indian woman to score 500 runs in Women’s Test cricket, joining Mithali Raj in this elite club. This dual achievement was celebrated by cricket fans and highlighted Mandhana’s growing legacy in the sport.
At lunch on the first day, India stood strong at 130/0 in 28 overs, with Shafali Verma at 65* and Smriti Mandhana at 64. Their solid start set a promising tone for India’s innings, showcasing the depth and skill of the team.
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