Chennai: Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma rewrote history books compiling the highest-ever partnership for the opening wicket in a women’s Test with a massive unbeaten stand with a partnership of 293 runs.
The Indian opening duo also thrashed the long-standing 20-year-old record for most runs in women’s Test for the opening wicket of 241 set by Pakistan’s Sajjida Shah and Kiran Baluch against West Indies in Karachi in 2004.
Indian vice-captain Mandhana compiled her 2nd Test ton while young upstart Verma notched up her maiden triple-figure mark as the duo pummeled the South African bowling attack. India had won the toss and chose to bat first. Mandhana took 122 balls to reach her hundred hitting 19 boundaries. Verma took 113 deliveries to notch up her ton and hit 15 fours and two sixes en route to the hundred.
The dup came agonizing close to breaking the 27-year-old record of the highest partnership for any wicket in women’s Test cricket. The record is 309 by Australia’s Lindsay Reeler and Denise Annetts set in 1987 vs England.
Mandhana fell for 149, off 161 deliveries with the help of 27 fours and one six, to Delmi Tucker in the 52nd over of India’s first innings.
Highest partnerships by wicket in Women’s Tests
| Wkt | Runs | Partners | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
| 1st | 310* | S Mandhana, S Verma | IND Women | v SA Women | Chennai | 2024 |
| 2nd | 275 | PG Raut, MDT Kamini | India Women | v SA Women | Mysore | 2014 |
| 3rd | 309 | LA Reeler, DA Annetts | AUS Women | v ENG Women | Wetherby | 1987 |
| 4th | 253 | KL Rolton, LC Broadfoot | AUS Women | v ENG Women | Leeds | 2001 |
| 5th | 138 | C van der Westhuizen, J Logtenberg | SA Women | v ENG Women | Shenley | 2003 |
| 6th | 229 | RL Haynes, JM Fields | AUS Women | v ENG Women | Worcester | 2009 |
| 7th | 157 | M Raj, J Goswami | India Women | v ENG Women | Taunton | 2002 |
| 8th | 181 | DL Wilson, SJ Griffiths | AUS Women | v NZ Women | Auckland | 1990 |
| 9th | 107 | M Payne, B Botha | SA Women | v NZ Women | Cape Town | 1972 |
| 10th | 119 | CR Smith, S Nitschke | AUS Women | v ENG Women | Hove | 2005 |
