India and Delhi's opening batter Shafali Varma got back in form in the ongoing Women's T20 League 2023 game against Bangalore. In the Women's U19 and the senior 20-20 World Cups, she was struggling with the bat. Even though Varma led the colts team to the title, she didn't contribute much with the bat. Meanwhile, in the ongoing game, the right-hander played a blistering inning.
After losing the toss, the Meg Lanning-led Delhi side was asked to bat first. However, with the way the skipper and Varma batted, they made the Bangalore side pay for their decision. Talking about Shafali, she wasn't ready to die wondering. In the second over of the innings, she hit a four over midwicket against Megan Schutt to get going.
Two overs later, Shafali welcomed Preeti Bose with a six over long-off. This made the fans believe that the 2023 U19 World Cup-winning skipper was about to play a special inning. In the last over of the powerplay, she hit two fours against New Zealand veteran Sophie Devine. Three overs later, she bashed uncapped Indian bowler, Sobhana Asha for two sixes and a four.
Renuka Singh, who came back to bowl her another over also became Shafali's victim as the former was hit for two back-to-back fours in the 12th over. At the end of 13 overs, Varma reached 78 and was looking to make history. After all, had she reached the triple-figure mark, she would have become the first player to score a hundred in the Women's T20 League history.
However, in the 15th over, she was caught behind by Richa Ghosh off Heather Knight, who bowled for the first time in the last few months.
Shafali Varma and Meg Lanning helped the team reach a record total
Meanwhile, Varma scored 84 off 45 balls including 10 fours and four sixes. On the other hand, Lanning got 72 off 43 balls including 14 fours. After the duo got out, the likes of Marizanne Kapp (39*) and Jemimah Rodrigues (22*) took the team to a record total of 223/2. The previous highest was 207/5, made by Mumbai against Gujarat on March 4.
This is how Twitter reacted
End of a masterclass innings from Shafali Varma. She smashed 84 runs from 45 balls including 10 fours and 4 Sixes against RCB.
What a knock from Shafali Varma, Incredible. pic.twitter.com/XJuerr6zNj
โ CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) March 5, 2023
Typical Delhi Capitals style kutai by Shafali Varma & Meg Lanning, finely thrashed RCB kachumber will be presented soon. #RCBvDC #WPL2023
โ Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) March 5, 2023
Divided by Gender, United by RCB....๐ Delhi Capitals
Smriti Mandhana #ViratKohli๐ต
Meg Lanning Shafali Varma Perry
#RCBvDC #RCBvsDC #DCvsRCB #WPL2023 #NotFair #WomensPremierLeague pic.twitter.com/C1cB7go7dKโ Cricket Star (@CricketStar24x7) March 5, 2023
This is what I was missing during the recent World Cup -- Shafali Varma unplugged.
I wonder whose bright idea it was to go against type and get her to "build an innings" against Australia.
โ Prem Panicker (@prempanicker) March 5, 2023
Brings up her fifty and Shafali celebrates it with some swagger๐๐ฎ๐ณ#RCBvDC #shafalivarma #TATAIPL2023 #WPL2023 pic.twitter.com/9sbUNjTLjB
โ MR.Roy (@Mrroy1809) March 5, 2023
Shafali Varma ๐ฅต๐ฅต๐ฅ๐ฅ
What a half century from @TheShafaliVerma !!!#DelhiCapitals #WPL2023 #ShafaliVarma
โ Shikhar (@its_me_shikhar) March 5, 2023
What a start from Meg Lenning and Shafali Varma ๐ฅ๐ฅ.. It's going tough for RCB now ๐ถ#RCBvDC #WPL2023
โ Riya (@are_yrr_riya) March 5, 2023
Meg Lanning and Shafali Varma, what an opening combo! The Delhi Capitals always have my heart for the best opening combos in IPL right from Sehwag and Warner#WPL #WPL2023
โ Shyam (@5ytix) March 5, 2023
No matter,, RCB mens or Women's team,,
RCB Bowlers : We never let our fans down,,
Shafali Varma bowlers na chenDaDtavLe ๐ฅ#WPL2023 #RCBvDC
โ Rangu :) (@ranga_swamy) March 5, 2023
Wow what terrific batting from #ShafaliVarma #MegLanning. #RCBvDC #TATAWPL #CricketTwitter
โ Sai Kiran (@sk_kiran16) March 5, 2023