15-year-old Shafali Verma breaks her idol Sachin Tendulkar’s record
Aprameya C
Gros Islet: India’s Shafali Verma broke her idol Sachin Tendulkar’s record during the first Twenty20 International between Indian women and West Indies women in Gros Islet on Saturday (November 9).
The 15-year-old Shafali struck a half century as India won the contest by 84 runs. During her 49-ball 73, Shafali became the youngest Indian to score a half century in an international game. The previous record was held by Tendulkar.
Also read: India thrash West Indies in Gros Islet
At 15 years and 285 days, Shafali surpassed the batting legend. Tendulkar was 16 years and 214 days when he scored his maiden Test half century against Pakistan in Faisalabad in the year 1989.
The youngest ever (man or woman) to score an international fifty is South Africa’s Johmari Logtenberg who achieved the feat at the age of 14 years.
It was a great effort by Shafali, who was playing in her fifth T20I. She was the Player-of-the-match award for her fifty. She and Smriti Mandhana (67) put on a record 143 runs for the first wicket.
Last month, Shafali made her T20I debut against South Africa in Surat. She was dismissed for a four-ball duck but bounced back in style, scoring 46 in the next game.