Shafali Verma sets T20I record as India beat Zimbabwe to lead series 2-0
Shafali Verma's 55 and a 96-run stand with Smriti Mandhana won the second T20 in Raipur and took India 2-0 up in the three-match series.
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The Indian women's cricket team beat Zimbabwe in the second T20 in Raipur on Sunday, taking a 2-0 lead in the three-match T20 series. Opening batter Shafali Verma hit a half-century to play a key role in the win, and the right-hander also set an important record during her innings.
Batting first, Zimbabwe scored 102 for eight in 20 overs. In reply, India completed the target in only 8.4 overs. Besides the team's strong performance, Shafali also set a world record in the match.
Shafali scored 55 off 25 balls, with six fours and four sixes. With this, she became the woman batter with the most scores of 50 or more in T20 internationals in a calendar year. She has made nine fifties or bigger scores so far this year.
The record was earlier held by Smriti Mandhana, who has scored 50 or more eight times in a calendar year. Shafali went past her.
An Indian is third on the list as well. Former India women's captain Mithali Raj is third with seven such scores, while Hong Kong's Natasha Miles is fourth.
India did not take long to beat Zimbabwe. Along with Shafali's explosive innings, captain Mandhana's attacking knock made a big contribution. The two put on a 96-run partnership. They became the pair to cross 1,000 partnership runs in a calendar year, a feat no other pair has achieved.
Mandhana scored an unbeaten 47 off 25 balls, with six fours and two sixes. India lost Mandhana's wicket but suffered no other setback. Since Smriti Mandhana became captain, India have won both matches in a row. The players were seen to perform well in both matches.
