India’s all-rounder Deepti Sharma made history on Sunday when she became the leading wicket-taker in women’s T20 International cricket. She took the wicket in the first match of the Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai against Thailand and helped her team to a 94-run victory.
Deepti entered the match with 168 T20I wickets, three behind Thailand’s Thipatcha Putthawong, who had 170 wickets. By the end of the match, the Indian spinner had taken her place at the top of the list with 171 wickets. Deepti was also playing her 150th T20I for India.
Deepti’s Seven Ball Spell is History
Deepti did not need many deliveries to make an impact against Thailand. Introduced into the attack in the ninth over, the right-arm off-spinner immediately changed the momentum of the chase.
Her first wicket was when Naomi Hamilton was struck by a delivery that turned sharply and hit her in front of the stumps. Two balls later, Nannaphat Chaihan tried to take a shorter delivery but misfired on her shot to short mid-wicket.
Deepti finished the over with two wickets without losing a run. She came back later in the innings with Thailand still trying to find a way back into the chase.
Nannapat Koncharoenkai had the best resistance out of Thailand, with 41 from 48 balls. But Deepti ended her innings when the batter struggled to defend a tossed-up delivery. The ball took the inside edge onto her pads and then fell to her off side, where Richa Ghosh took a diving catch.
That was Deepti’s third wicket and took her career tally to 171 in women’s T20Is, putting her on top of the all-time wicket-taking list.
Her final figures were 3/0 from just 1.1 overs. She bowled seven deliveries, took three wickets and didn’t concede a single run. It also marked her as the first Indian bowler to take three or more wickets and not concede a run in a Women’s T20I.
The record was part of a strong bowling performance by India after the team had posted 159/9 when they won the first test. Thailand struggled to form partnerships in the chase and was finally bowled out for 65 in 16.1 overs.
Deepti shared the wickets with Nandani Sharma, who took three wickets, and Shree Charani had two. Thailand’s Koncharoenkai was the only batter to present serious resistance, but India kept taking wickets at regular intervals to secure a comfortable win.
The feat also happened on Deepti's 150th T20I. She also became the third woman cricketer in India to reach 150 T20I appearances, after Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana. Harmanpreet has played 203 T20Is, and Mandhana has made 172. Deepti was also the 12th woman cricketer in the history of cricket to make 150 appearances.
Deepti now has 171 wickets on the global list, and Thailand’s Thipatcha Putthawong has 170. Rwanda’s Henriette Ishimwe is third with 164 wickets, England’s Sophie Ecclestone has 154 and Hong Kong’s Kary Chan has 153.
Deepti said the success after the match was a proud moment, but she would do well to improve her bowling and contribute to the team. She said she doesn’t think about who India will face next and is rather focusing on getting better at bowling and helping the bowling team.
For India, the record was secured together with a solid first victory in the Women’s Asia Cup. They were 159/9 in the tournament, and the defending champions were able to limit Thailand to 65, a good start to the campaign for the team.
