India women's batting sensation Shafali Verma on Sunday made her ODI debut after being named in the playing XI for the match versus England Women in Bristol. The 17-year-old was presented with India Women's ODI cap number 131 from captain Mithali Raj. The Rohtak-born, who made her Test debut in the recently-concluded one-off Test against England, is now the 5th youngest player to feature in all three formats of the game on international level.
Shafali broke the Indian record for the highest score on women's Test debut. She overtook Chanderkanta Kaul's tally of 75 against New Zealand in 1995. She also became the first Indian woman to hit a six on her Test debut. Later, Shafali hit 2 more sixes to become only women's cricketer to hit 3 sixes in a Test match.
The prodigious talent endured a rather tame beginning to her ODI career. The Rohtak girl scored a 14-ball 15, including three fours. The youngster succumbed to her tendency of going after the bowling. In the sixth over, she made room to a rising delivery from Katherine Brunt, but ended up miscuing her shot and caught at mid-on. Mithali laboured to108-ball 72 as India could post 201/8. Superb half centuries by Tammy Beaumont (87 not out) and Natt Sciver (74 not out) and a disciplined bowling performance saw England win the first one -day international with 91 balls and eight wickets to spare.
