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Shafali Verma shines with a fifty for India A against Australia A at Allan Border Field after missing ODI World Cup team selection.
Shafali Verma scored a half-century in India’s second innings (Picture credit: BCCI)
Star India batter Shafali Verma on Saturday, August 23, scored a sublime half-century in the only unofficial Test against Australia A at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane, days after she didn’t find a place in India’s 15-woman squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup at home.
India A ended the day at 260/8, bagging an overall lead of 254 runs, with Shafali (52) and Raghavi Bist (86) scoring resilient fifties.
Earlier, resuming at 158/5 overnight, Australia managed 305 in their first innings, taking a narrow six-run lead.
Shafali and wicketkeeper Nandini Kashyap then added 42 runs for the opening partnership before the latter was dismissed by Sianna Ginger. The former then joined hands with Dhara Gujjar to add another 36 runs for the second wicket, before the latter was dismissed by Amy Edgar.
Shafali and Tejal Hasabnis then added 37 runs for the third wicket before the former was dismissed by Edgar for 52. Raghvi scored 86 to drive India to 260.
For Australia, Sianna, overnight 24, helped the home team recover from a shaky 158/5, in the company of late order batters with a gritty 103 off 138 deliveries.
Ginger and Nicole Faltum added 102 runs for a determined sixth-wicket partnership as Australia managed to overhaul India’s first-innings total of 299, where Shafali had contributed with 35 runs. Raghvi scored 93 while VJ Joshitha scored 51. The latter is unbeaten on 9 at the end of the third day’s play.
Off-spinner Edgar (4/53) kept striking at regular intervals, but Shafali first and then Raghvi were involved in small but significant alliances to keep India going.
The most important among them was a 68-run stand for the fifth wicket between Raghvi and Tanusree Sarkar.
The former fell to Edgar with only seven overs remaining in the day for a well-made half-century off 119 deliveries.
Why was Shafali dropped from the WC squad?
Shafali’s recent performances have been way below the mark, making 52, 4 and 36 in three ODIs and 41, 3 and 3 in the T20Is that preceded them for India A against Australia A.
The World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is scheduled to be held between September 30 to November 2.
Despite reaching the final twice, India are yet to win a World Cup. In the 2017 final, India lost to England by just nine runs and in 2005, they were beaten by Australia by 98 runs.
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