Under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s Women’s team secured a record 10-wicket victory against South Africa in a one-off Test in Chennai. Sneh Rana’s phenomenal 10-wicket haul, Shafali Verma’s double century, and Smriti Mandhana’s 149 runs were pivotal in this triumphant match for the Women in Blue.
This win marked India’s third consecutive Test victory, having previously defeated England and Australia in December 2023. Notably, this achievement ties the record for the longest winning streak in women’s Test matches.
Throughout their Test history, the Indian women have achieved several significant victories. These include another 10-wicket win, a massive 347-run victory over England in 2023, and an innings-and-34-run triumph over South Africa in 2014.
In this article, we delve into the top five biggest wins by wickets for the Indian Women’s team in Test matches, highlighting their recent historic victory against South Africa in Chepauk.
#5 By 5 Wickets vs West Indies, 1976
In the fourth Test of the home series against the West Indies in Patna, the Indian women clinched a five-wicket victory, ranking fifth in terms of wickets remaining.
The hosts showcased a stellar bowling performance, dismissing the West Indies for just 127 runs in the first innings, with Shubhangi Kulkarni and Diana Edulji taking three wickets each. Fowzieh Khalili’s half-century led India to a first-innings total of 161/9 declared.
Kulkarni’s four-wicket haul in the second innings restricted the West Indies to 88 runs. Chasing a modest target of 55 runs, India secured the win with five wickets to spare, completing the chase in 26 overs.
#4 By 6 Wickets vs England, 2014
In their only Test match during the 2014 tour of England in Wormsley, Mithali Raj’s squad achieved a landmark six-wicket victory.
Niranjana Nagarajan’s four-wicket haul helped bowl out England for just 92 runs in the first innings. Despite a lower-order collapse, India managed to score 114 runs in their first innings, maintaining a slim lead.
England set a target of 181 runs after being bowled out for 202 in their second innings, with Jhulan Goswami claiming four wickets. Fifties from Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj guided India to a hard-fought victory, reaching 183/4 in 95.3 overs.
#3 By 8 Wickets vs Australia, 2023
In December 2023, India secured a historic eight-wicket win against Australia at Wankhede, marking their first Test victory over Australia since 1977.
Australia posted 219 runs in the first innings, with Pooja Vastrakar and Sneh Rana taking four and three wickets, respectively. India responded with a commanding 406 runs, thanks to significant contributions from Deepti Sharma (78), Smriti Mandhana (74), Jemimah Rodrigues (73), and Richa Ghosh (52).
Sneh Rana’s four-wicket haul in the second innings restricted Australia to 261 runs, setting a target of 75 runs for India. Mandhana (38) and Jemimah (12) ensured an easy chase**, leading India to an eight-wicket victory.
#2 By 10 Wickets vs South Africa, 2024
India’s recent 10-wicket win against South Africa in Chennai during the 2024 multi-format series is their second-largest victory by wickets.
Setting a record for the highest team total in an innings, India declared at 603/6, with Shafali Verma’s double century and substantial contributions from Smriti Mandhana (149), Richa Ghosh (86), Harmanpreet Kaur (69), and Jemimah Rodrigues (55).
Sneh Rana’s remarkable bowling performance (eight wickets in the first innings and two in the second) played a crucial role in dismissing South Africa for 266 and 373 runs, respectively. Chasing a modest target of 37 runs, India secured the win in just 9.2 overs.
#1 By 10 Wickets vs South Africa, 2002
India’s biggest Test victory by wickets came during their tour of South Africa in 2002, in the only Test at Paarl.
Skipper Anjum Chopra (80), Hemlata Kala (64), Mithali Raj (55), Anju Jain (52), and Mamatha Maben (50) powered India to a first-innings total of 404/9 declared. Deepa Marathe (3 wickets) and Neetu David (2 wickets) led the charge in bowling out South Africa for 150 runs.
Jhulan Goswami and Hemlata Kala’s three-wicket hauls in the second innings dismissed South Africa for 266 runs after enforcing the follow-on. Chasing a mere 13 runs, India clinched the victory in just 1.3 overs, maintaining all 10 wickets intact.
These victories highlight the dominance and resilience of the Indian Women’s team in Test cricket, showcasing their ability to secure significant wins under diverse conditions.
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