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Shafali Verma etched her name into history on Sunday (November 2) by scoring the highest-ever individual score by an opening batter in a World Cup final — men or women, ODI or T20I — for India. The record was held by Punam Raut, with her steady 86 against England in the 2017 Women’s World Cup final in Derby, followed by the men’s former opener Virender Sehwag’s 82 in the 2003 World Cup final against Australia.

Overall, in ICC tournaments, Sourav Ganguly’s 117 in the 2000 Champions Trophy final reigns supreme. But the fact that no Indian had previously crossed 86 in a World Cup final shows just how difficult it is to achieve. And unlike Raut, Shafali didn’t hang around and held one end like an anchor, which increased her score: she took only 78 balls in the innings

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