Delhi hammer Hyderabad by 108 runs after record-breaking batting display

New Delhi: Delhi rewrote the record books by piling up 262/6 against Hyderabad in a Senior Women’s T20 Trophy league-stage match in Pune, registering the highest-ever total by a women’s team in domestic T20 cricket.

The total eclipsed the previous best of 257/2, scored by Goa against Arunachal Pradesh in the 2019-20 season. Delhi’s 262/6, recorded at MCA Ground 2 in Gahunje, is also the 11th-highest total in women’s T20 cricket, with the 10 scores above it all coming in T20Is.

The record-breaking effort was built around a blistering century from opener Tanisha Singh, who struck 119 off just 47 balls in a whirlwind knock featuring 25 fours and a six. The 23-year-old reached her hundred in 38 balls, equalling the joint third-fastest century in women’s T20 cricket and matching West Indies batter Deandra Dottin’s effort against South Africa in 2010.

Only India’s Kiran Navgire (34 balls) and former New Zealand captain Sophie Devine (36 balls) have reached the three-figure mark faster. Delhi lost opener Vanshika Lila early, but Tanisha and fellow batter Priya Punia took the attack to Hyderabad’s bowlers, adding 160 runs off just 66 balls to take Delhi past 175.

Punia scored 59 off 28 balls, while Shweta Sehrawat smashed 26 off eight deliveries, including three sixes, to push the total past 200. Tanisha was eventually bowled by G Trisha. Late contributions from Nazma Khan (11), Deeksha Sharma (15 not out) and captain Soni Yadav (15 not out) carried Delhi to the record total.

Vanka Pooja was the only Hyderabad bowler to escape punishment, returning figures of 4-32 in her four overs, while each of the other seven bowlers conceded at least 11 runs an over. Trisha gave Hyderabad a brisk start in reply and top-scored with 80 off 52 balls, but the chase never threatened Delhi’s imposing total.

Captain Pranavi Chandra was the only other batter to score more than 20 as Hyderabad finished at 154/8, losing by 108 runs.

The match came a day after the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction, where Shweta Sehrawat and Bharti Rawal were signed by Mumbai Indians for Rs 20 lakh each, while Nazma Khan was acquired by Delhi Capitals for Rs 10 lakh.