Top 5 highest opening partnerships in a Women's Test ft. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma
The one-off Test between India and South Africa saw opening batters Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma script history by notching up the highest-ever first-wicket partnership for their side in test cricket. The duo scored their respective centuries en route to achieving this feat.
Verma and Mandhana’s opening stand also went down as the highest in the history of red-ball cricket and the second-highest overall for any wicket. It was a memorable outing for the two stalwarts as they carried India to 292/0 in 52 overs before Mandhana walked back to the pavilion.
As the red-ball format witnesses a new record, here’s a look at the top 5 highest opening partnerships in a Women's Test.
#5 Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana (India), 167 vs England
Mandhana and Verma entered the record books in June 2021 when England hosted India for a one-off Test match. While England had a sole debutant, India, who were playing a game of Test after seven years, handed debut caps to five players, including Shafali Verma.
In what was her maiden outing in whites, Shafali went on to score 96 runs off 152 deliveries while also stitching together a 167-run opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana in the first innings as India batted second.
Playing Test cricket after such a long gap, the Indian openers surpassed Gargi Banerjee and Sandhya Agarwal’s record of a 153-run opening stand from 1984, to script a new highest opening partnership for India in Tests.
#4 Belinda Haggett and Belinda Clark (Australia), 178 vs India
Hosting India for a three-match Test series in 1991, Australia showcased their dominance by winning all three games and eventually clinching the series 3-0 in a whitewash. The first Test of the series saw Belinda Haggett and Belinda Clark stitch together a 178-run opening stand in the first innings.
While Haggett scored 73 runs before Sudha Shah dismissed her, Clarke notched up 104 runs before being dismissed by Mithu Mukherjee. The Indian bowlers couldn’t do much as Australia posted 301/4 before declaring.
The Australian bowlers then dismissed India for 217 before putting up 111 more runs in the next essay and declaring. Chasing a target of 195 to win in the final innings, India got their score to 83/6 before the end of play on the final day as the match ended in a draw.
#3 Caroline Atkins and Arran Brindle (England), 200 vs India
Hosting England for a one-off Test in Lucknow, the Indian bowlers were left helpless as opposition openers Caroline Atkins and Arran Brindle stitched up a 200-run stand.
Courtesy of their knocks on top of the order, followed by some decent contributions from the middle-order batters, England posted 314 in the first innings.
With a fighting century from Hemlata Kala in India’s first innings in addition to scores in the 40s from Anju Jain, skipper Anjum Chopra and Mamatha Menon, India got to 312/9.
The second innings wasn’t possible as India kept batting till the fourth day, and the match eventually ended in a draw. Kala was adjudged the Player of the Match for her knock of 110.
#2 Kiran Baluch and Sajjida Shah, 241 vs West Indies
In a Test match between Pakistan and West Indies, the Pakistan openers Sajjida Shah and Kiran Baluch scripted history by notching up the highest-ever opening stand in the history of Pakistan Women’s Tests.
While Sajjida fell two runs short of a century, closing in on their first wicket partnership with 241 runs on board, Baluch went on to notch up a double ton and finished with 242 runs in 488 deliveries. Thanks to their knocks, Pakistan posted 426/7 before declaring.
Shaiza Khan was phenomenal with the ball as she picked up a seven-wicket haul to dismiss West Indies for 147 runs and enforce a follow-on. The Windies women then posted 440 runs in the second essay, handing a 162-run target for Pakistan to win.
Pakistan Women got to 58/2 before the end of the fourth day of the Test as the game ended in a draw.
#1 Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana (India), 292 vs South Africa
Shafali and Mandhana broke their own record which they set in 2021 against England. Joining hands to open the innings against South Africa at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the duo stitched up a massive 292-run stand while scoring their respective centuries en route.
While Shafali Verma scored her maiden Test century in three years since her debut in the red-ball format, Indian vice-captain Mandhana got to her second Test ton on the very next ball after Verma achieved the feat.
Closing in on a landmark 150, Mandhana was dismissed at 149 (161) in the second session as South Africa finally got their first breakthrough. Batting strongly on the first day of the Test, Shafali remained unbeaten throughout the first two sessions.