NEW DELHI: The Indian women’s cricket team breached the 300-run mark in the ODIs for the first time scoring 358 for three in match eight of the Women’s Quadrangular series at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom against Ireland women on Monday. The base for this record score was setup by openers Deepti Sharma and Punam Raut who combined for a women’s world record of 320-run stand for the opening wicket with Sharma scoring 188 and Raut scoring 109. The partnership is the first 300 plus stand in Women’s ODIs.
Sharma and Raut put on the record stand in 45.3 overs and buoyed by Shikha Pandey’s brisk 14-ball 27 run-knock, India posted their highest ever team total, surpassing their previous best of 298 for two against West Indies women made in 2004.
Sharma’s score of 188, that came in 160 deliveries with the help of 27 fours and two sixes, is now the highest individual score by an Indian women’s cricketer and the second highest in women’s cricket after Belinda Clarke’s 229 not out made in 1997 against Denmark women. India’s previous highest individual score was 138 not out made by Jaya Sharma against Pakistan women at Karachi in 2005.
Earlier in the series, India pacer Jhulan Goswami had become the all-time highest wicket-taker in Women’s ODIs with 181 scalps in 153 matches.
India women went on to beat Ireland women by 249 – the six largest victory (runs) in Women’s ODIs – bundling out their opposition for 109 runs. Rajeshwari Gayakwad claimed 4 for 18 while Shikha Pandey returned 3 for 16. India women have so far won all fours of their matches in the series.
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