Former SL women’s cricketer establishes new T20I world record

Deepika Rasangika, the former Sri Lanka Women’s cricketer set up a new world record in women’s cricket by smashing the highest individual score in T20 format.

The 38-year-old left-hander hit a massive 161 off just 66 balls inclusive of 31 fours in a remarkable exhibition of hitting for Bahrain Women against Saudi Arabia Women in a GCC Women’s T20 Championship Cup match played at Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Oman on Tuesday.

Thanks to Deepika’s astonishing innings Bahrain Women achieved another record by running up the highest T20I total in the history of women’s cricket – 318/1 in 20 overs.

Deepika figured in an unbroken second wicket partnership of 255 with Tharanga Gajanayake, the Bahrain Women skipper who was unbeaten on 94 scored off 56 balls (17 fours).

Saudi Arabia Women could respond with only 49-8 off 20 overs to lose the contest by a massive margin of 269 runs with Deepika showing her skill with the ball as well picking up three wickets for nine runs with her leg-spin to take the Player of the Match award.

Deepika played in 31 WODIs for Sri Lanka between 2008 and 2014 before retiring. She won the Best Batswomen’s prize at the Dialog Sri Lanka Cricket awards in 2013. – (ST)