Deepti Sharma’s dominance leads India Women to historic Test win over England
New Delhi: In a display of skill and determination, Deepti Sharma emerged as the star performer as the Indian women’s cricket team created history with a stunning 347-run win over England in the one-off Test at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Deepti’s heroics not only secured India’s first home Test win against England but also broke the record for the largest margin of victory in women’s Test history.
Deepti Sharma’s impact was felt throughout the match, as she showcased her skills with both bat and ball. After contributing 67 runs in India’s first innings total of 428 runs, he wreaked havoc on the English batting lineup and performed brilliantly, taking 9 wickets in the match. His brilliant spell of 5.3-4-7-5 in the first innings gave India a strong lead of 292 runs. In the second innings, Deepti continued her dominance and finished with figures of 4/32 with 10 wickets in the match.
Reflecting on her excellent performance, Deepti shared, “I was just keen to bowl and keep myself warm, the wicket helped a lot and I kept myself steady.” His partnership with left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gaikwad disappointed the English team. bowling them out for just 131 runs in 27.3 overs on the third day of the Test.
Deepti Sharma’s journey to this historic moment is a tale of consistent excellence. In 2016, she made headlines by becoming the youngest Indian cricketer, male or female, to claim a 6-wicket haul, taking 6 wickets for just 20 runs against Sri Lanka. She holds the record for the second-highest individual Women’s ODI score by an Indian woman, amassing 188 runs off 160 balls, including 27 fours and 2 sixes. In 2019, she bowled three maidens in a T20 international match against South Africa, becoming the first Indian woman cricketer to achieve this feat.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur declared the innings at 186/6, leaving England a challenging target of 479 runs. The England team, led by Heather Knight, faltered under pressure and could play only 63 overs in the entire match. Pooja Vastrakar’s double strike in the first over of England’s second innings and the brilliant spin bowling performance of Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gaikwad decided the fate of England.
While Deepti’s extraordinary performance grabbed the headlines, it was also a perfect performance for India’s newcomers – Shubha Satish, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Renuka Singh. Despite Shubha being ruled out due to a finger fracture, her success further cemented India’s dominance in the historic Test match.
As India tasted this emphatic win, Deepti Sharma’s all-round talent is a testament to the growing strength of women’s cricket on the global stage. This victory not only broke records but also laid the foundation for an exciting contest against Australia in the upcoming one-off Test.
