Shafali Verma Hits 57 in 100th T20I as India Reach 147 vs SA
Shafali Verma scored 57 in her 100th T20I to become the youngest Indian woman to reach the milestone as India posted 147 against South Africa in Durban.
Jyoti Kushwaha Durban, April 20 — Shafali Verma became the youngest Indian woman to play 100 T20Is and marked the milestone with a 57-run knock as India posted 147 in the second T20I against South Africa at Kingsmead on Sunday, though a late batting collapse left the visitors trailing 0-1 in the five-match series.
Shafali Reaches Landmark with Record-Setting Fifty
Opening batter Shafali Verma, aged 22 years and 81 days, became the youngest Indian woman to complete 100 T20I appearances, surpassing Jemimah Rodrigues’ previous record of 23 years and 327 days. She also became only the fifth Indian woman to reach the milestone, joining Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma and Rodrigues.
Globally, Shafali is the third-youngest cricketer to reach 100 women’s T20Is, behind Rwanda’s Gisele Ishimwe and Henriette Ishimwe. The milestone further underlined her early entry and sustained presence in India’s T20I setup.
In the same match, she became the first Indian woman to score a fifty-plus knock in her 100th T20I. Overall, she is only the second Indian cricketer to achieve the feat, after Rohit Sharma.
Top-Scoring Effort Anchors India’s Total
Shafali led India’s batting with 57 off 38 balls, striking seven fours and two sixes. Her innings formed the backbone of India’s total of 147 in 20 overs on a pitch that offered variable bounce and tested stroke-making.
She combined attacking strokes with controlled shot selection to maintain scoring momentum during the early and middle phases of the innings. The knock also marked her 15th half-century in T20 internationals.
Despite the challenging conditions, Shafali managed to find gaps consistently and capitalise on scoring opportunities, ensuring India reached a competitive total after early setbacks.
South Africa Strike Early Through Tryon
South Africa’s bowlers applied pressure from the outset, with Chloe Tryon delivering a key spell of 3 for 22. She removed Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues early, leaving India under pressure in the powerplay.
The early breakthroughs disrupted India’s top order, forcing a rebuilding phase. Shafali, along with Anushka, steadied the innings briefly, rebuilding the platform and taking the score forward.
The partnership helped India recover to 99 for 2, placing them in a position to accelerate in the latter stages of the innings.
Late Collapse Derails India’s Progress
India’s innings lost momentum after Shafali’s dismissal, which triggered a collapse. From a relatively stable 99 for 2, the team slipped to 109 for 4 and eventually lost eight wickets for 48 runs.
South Africa’s bowlers executed variations effectively during the middle and death overs. Tumi Sekhukhune (3/31), Ayabonga Khaka and Nadine de Klerk maintained tight lines and varied pace to restrict scoring opportunities.
The collapse prevented India from building on the platform set by Shafali, resulting in a total that appeared below par given the position earlier in the innings.
Series Context and Match Conditions
The Kingsmead surface offered uneven bounce, making strokeplay difficult and contributing to India’s inconsistency with the bat. South Africa adapted better to the conditions, using disciplined bowling to control the innings.
India now trail 0-1 in the five-match T20I series, with the second match highlighting both individual milestones and areas requiring improvement in batting depth and consistency.
While Shafali Verma’s performance stood out as a significant individual achievement, the team’s inability to capitalise on a strong position ultimately defined the innings outcome.
