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Indian women’s team Test skipper Mithali Raj, rated Shafali Verm’a knock in the second innings ahead of her first innings score of 96 as the teenager showed utmost composure and maturity. Shafali smashed a stroke-filled 96 in the first innings, made 63 in the second innings

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Shafali scored 96 in the first innings, made 63 in the second innings
  • She played sensibly against the new ball, says Mithali Raj
  • Shafali Verma was rightfully adjudged player-of-the-match for her performance

Indian women’s team Test skipper Mithali Raj, has heaped praise on Shafali Verma after her exceptional debut against England in an one-off Test match in Bristol.

“She will be very, very important to the Indian batting unit in all formats. She beautifully adapted to this format,” Mithali said in a virtual media interaction after India, following on, salvaged a draw in the one-off Test against England.

“She didn’t go like how she would go bonkers in the T20 format. She played sensibly against the new ball and it”s great to have her.”

The 17-year-old, who had smashed a stroke-filled 96 in the first innings, made 63 in the second innings, to become the youngest woman and fourth overall to score twin half-centuries in her debut Test and was rightfully adjudged player-of-the-match.

However, the Indian skipper rated rated Shafali Verm’a knock in the second innings ahead of her first innings score of 96 as the teenager showed utmost composure and maturity.

“The (second innings) fifty came with a little more sorted head and a little bit more experience. Those sweetly-timed drives, it was beautiful to watch her. I”m sure she will grow from strength to strength from here on,” said Mithali.

In reply to England”s first innings score of 396 for 9, India, playing their first-ever Test in seven years, collapsed to 231 from 167 for no loss, courtesy the fine start given by Verma and Smriti Mandhana. Following-on, India had a familiar collapse after fifties from Verma and Deepti Sharma and they were staring at a loss before debutants Sneh Rana (80 not out) and wicketkeeper Taniya Bhatia (44 not out) frustrated the English bowlers to pull off a thrilling draw in the final session. Rana, who was playing her first game for India in five years, was handed a surprise debut and Mithali said the off-spinner”s ability to bat clinched it for her.

India will now play three ODIs and as many T20Is against England beginning with the first game here on June 27.

Author

India today

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