Indian teenager Shafali Verma saved the day for the likes of Alyssa Healy and Ash Gardner after producing a maiden WBBL half-century to secure victory for the Sydney Sixers on Sunday in a final-over thriller.
Verma, who this year became the youngest player, male or female, to represent India in all three formats of international cricket at just 17, hit 57 off 50 balls in her second Big Bash game to take the Sixers to a five-wicket win at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena.
Shafali Verma flays a delivery to the leg side during her match-winning innings for the Sixers on Sunday.Credit:Getty
Her efforts pushed the Sydney side to successfully chase down the target of 126 set by the Hobart Hurricanes with three balls to spare.
The knock was made even more impressive following the dismissals of star duo Alyssa Healy and Ash Gardner, who both managed just three with the bat.
After the match, Sixers recruit Nicole Bolton was full of praise for the teenager’s performance in such a high-pressure situation.
“We all knew what she was capable of,” Bolton said. “I thought for someone that is 17; that is years beyond. Hopefully, now she’s got that confidence that she’s stepped up and won us the game with her bat, and hopefully that will take her through the rest of the tournament.”
Verma’s success with the bat was assisted by the bowling efforts of Ellyse Perry and Maitlan Brown who took 2-9 and 2-23 respectively to heavily restrict the Hurricanes.
Perry followed up her bowling efforts with 27 runs in a support role to Verma.
‘That is years beyond’: Indian teen prodigy saves Sixers in thriller
Source: Philippines Alive
