OTD | Deepti Sharma and Punam Raut forged the highest ODI Partnership in Women’s Cricket against Ireland in 2017

The history was made on May 15, 2017, when India’s opening batters Deepti Sharma and Punam Raut set the magnificent record for the highest partnership in women’s ODI cricket during the eight games of the Women’s Quadrangular series, which took place in South Africa. Notably, Mithali Raj-led Team India won the game by 249 runs.

Notably, both the star cricketers added 320 runs for the first wicket in an ODI against the Irish side. India’s sensational batter Deepti Sharma made 188 runs from 160 balls, featuring 27 boundaries and two sixes, while Raut made 109 runs from 116 balls, featuring 11 fours, before being retired from the game. Meanwhile, the Women in Blue hammered 356 runs on board and dismissed the Ireland side for just 109 runs.

Interestingly, this opening combination was purely a chance one as India’s regular opener and left-handed batter Smriti Mandhana was ruled out of the clash owing to the injuries she suffered in the Big Bash League. Notably, Punam Raut and Deepti Sharma were forced to start the innings for the quadrangular series that featured the South Africa and Zimbabwe sides as well as India and Ireland.

Deepti Sharma and Punam Raut were the main openers who started the game as they topped the batting chart and guided the side to win the title. This win came at the perfect time, as it was just ahead of the 2017 Women’s World Cup. While the Mithali Raj side also placed themselves in the final of the World Cup, they were outclassed by the English side.

Meanwhile, star batter Veda Krishnamurthy also made eight unbeaten runs, while Shikha Pandey was run out for 27 runs. However, during the chase, Shikha Pandey had scalped three wickets, and Deepti Sharma had one to her name. In addition, star bowler Rajeshwari Gayakwad also played a crucial role with her four scalps in this match and dismantled Ireland’s batting line-up to guide her side to a magnificent win.