Deepti Sharma becomes leading T20I wicket-taker with three wickets for no runs
Deepti Sharma took three wickets without conceding a run to become the leading T20I wicket-taker as India defeated Thailand by 94 runs.
Deepti Sharma claimed three wickets for no runs in 1.1 overs to become the leading wicket-taker in women's T20I cricket during India's 94-run victory over Thailand in their Women's Asia Cup opener at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The all-rounder reached the milestone on her 150th T20I cap, which places her alongside Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana as the twelfth woman globally to achieve the mark.
Shafali Verma scored 64 runs off 36 balls to lead India's batting effort before the side collapsed to 159 for nine. Thailand were dismissed for 65 in 16.1 overs, with Nannapat Koncharoenkai top-scoring with 41 runs. Nandani Sharma also took three wickets for India.
Pratika Rawal made her T20I debut and scored 22 runs off 18 balls. Smriti Mandhana reached 10,756 international runs during the match to surpass Suzie Bates as the second-highest run-scorer in women's international cricket history.
CricHubb Take
Sharma's elevation to the all-time leading wicket-taker list while batting at number seven or eight underscores how India now rely on her dual contributions to control middle overs, a balance the side has sought since the retirement of earlier all-rounders.