India Women Cricketers Deepti Sharma And Punam Raut Create History With Record Opening Stand 1

India women’s cricket team openers Deepti Sharma and Poonam Raut have carved their place in the record books by becoming the first-ever pair to share a 300-run stand in a One-Day International. The duo shared a 320-run stand against Ireland Women during the quadrangular series on Monday (May 15). The series, which is being played in South Africa, features India, Ireland, Zimbabwe and the hosts.

The previous best partnership in women’s cricket was between England’s Sarah Taylor and Caroline Atkins when they had stitched together 268 runs for the opening wicket against South Africa in 2008 at Lord’s.

The mammoth partnership between the duo propelled India to a huge 358 for 3 in the 50 overs. In reply, the Ireland women were bowled out for a paltry 109, handing India a massive win of 249 runs.

19-year old Deepti Sharma scored 188 and Raut 109. Deepti’s 188 is the second highest individual score by a woman cricketer in ODIs. The highest belongs to Belinda Clark of Australia who had scored 229 against Denmark in 1997. The 188-run knock came off only 160 balls and was studded with 27 boundaries and 2 sixes. Deepti, who missed out on a double-century by just 12 runs, has also become the youngest (19 years and 264 days) to score 175-plus runs in an ODI innings, for both men and women.

The series has turned out very well for the India women so far. They have played four matches in the series so far and have won all four – beat Ireland by 10 wickets, beat South Africa by 7 wickets and beat Zimbabwe by 9 wickets before the latest win against Ireland.

Earlier last week, Jhulan Goswami too had etched her name in the record books by becoming the highest wicket-taker in women’s ODIs when she got her 181st wicket in the match against South Africa, going past Australian Cathryn Fitzpatrick’s decade-old record of 180.

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