On This Day in 2019: Shafali Verma breaks Sachin Tendulkar's 30-year-old record with maiden half-century

On this day (November 9) in 2019, Shafali Verma scored a famous half-century against the West Indies and set a phenomenal record. At the age of 15 years and 285 days, Verma became India’s youngest cricketer to score a half-century in international cricket.

The right-handed batter broke Sachin Tendulkar's 30-year-old when she brought up her half-century. The Little Master had scored his maiden half-century in international cricket at the age of 16 years and 214 days against Pakistan in 1989. Shafali achieved the milestone in just her fifth T20I appearance.

India traveled to the Caribbean islands in November 2019 to play three ODIs and five T20Is. Shafali, who had made her international debut a couple of months ago then, opened the batting alongside Smriti Mandhana in the first T20I at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia. The opening partnership for the tourists yielded 143 runs off just 93 balls. Shafali was dismissed for a breathtaking 73 off 49 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes. Her strike rate was a commendable 148.98. Smriti also scored a half-century (67) as the Women in Blue finished on 185/4 in their 20 overs.

In reply, the West Indies batters lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually restricted to 101/9 in their 20 overs. Shemaine Campbelle top-scored with a 34-ball 33. Shikha Pandey, Radha Yadav, and Poonam Yadav bagged two wickets each. Meanwhile, Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar took one wicket each.

Shafali was fittingly adjudged the Player of the Match for her blistering knock as she gave the cricket fraternity a glimpse of her talent.

Shafali Verma's numbers in T20I cricket

Shafali has become a reliable member of the Indian team across formats. She has played 85 T20Is and amassed 2,045 runs at an average of 25.56 and a strike rate of 129.10. The Rohtak-born has 10 half-centuries to her name, including a highest score of 81.

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Shafali has also played 29 ODIs and five Tests for the national team. In the 50-over format, she has scored 644 runs at an average of 23 and a strike rate of 83.20. Meanwhile, in Test cricket, she has aggregated 567 runs at an average of 63 and has a highest score of 205.