Shafali Verma's maturity is a good sign for Indian cricket: Smriti Mandhana

Indian opener Smriti Mandhana praised youngster Shafali Verma for her performance in the longest format of the game.

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Shafali Verma

Shafali Verma

Indian opener Smriti Mandhana praised youngster Shafali Verma for her performance in the longest format of the game. Mandhana started Shafali Verma has exceeded all expectations with two half-centuries in her Test debut against England. Shafali has now become the first Indian batter and the fourth player to score a fifty in both innings on Test debut. The 17-year-old batter is the youngest to have scored more than 50 runs in both innings in the debut Test match. Shafali Verma also broke Australia's Jess Jonassen record of scoring two half-centuries on debut. Jess had achieved this milestone when she was 22 years old. Shafali can make the record of scoring the most runs for team India in the debut Test. For that, the youngster needs to score 37 runs more.

Team India isn't used to batting beyond 50 overs: Smriti Mandhana

India openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma recorded a stunning opening partnership. However, five back-to-back wickets in the final hour brought the hosts back in the game on Thursday. The England women's team finished day two on top with five wickets in the final session despite an excellent opening stand by the Indian openers. On the other hand, the Indian cricket team went to stumps at 187/5. Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma were unbeaten on four and zero, respectively. The visitors were right on track to record a mammoth total, but England struck, and the visitors lost four wickets in the last half an hour. Punam Raut, captain Mithali Raj, and Shikha Pandey were all dismissed cheaply, and India struggled before the close of day's play.

Restarting day three's play on Friday, the Mithali Raj-led team shattered once again. Spinner Sophie Ecclestone picked three wickets in the first session to help dismiss the visitors on 231. Smriti Mandhana accepted that Team India is not used to batting beyond 50 overs. At stumps, team India's score was 83/1, and the visitors are still trailing by 82 runs. For India, Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma are unbeaten on 55 and 18, respectively. The team management decided to promote Deepti Sharma in the second innings after Smriti Mandhana got out for 8 runs.

India Women (Playing XI): 

Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Mithali Raj(c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Punam Raut, Jhulan Goswami, Pooja Vastrakar, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Taniya Bhatia(w), Shikha Pandey.

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Smriti Mandhana Shafali Verma Team India Test Debut