Shafali Breaks Sachin's Record To Become Youngest Indian Cricketer To Register International Fifty

India women team's teen opening sensation Shafali Verma did herself proud as she broke batting legend  Sachin Tendulkar’s longstanding record to become the youngest Indian to notch up an international half century on Sunday. Shafali achieved the feat during her 73-run knock in India's 84-run win over the West Indies in the first T20I of the 5-match series at Gros Islet. The talented teenager smashed six boundaries and four sixes in her belligerent 49-ball 73 run knock to register her maiden fifty in T20Is and was adjudged as the player of the match. Shafali along with her partner Smriti Mandhana hammered scintillating half-centuries as the Indian women’s team notched up a comfortable 84-run win over hosts West Indies in the first T20I here. The 15-year-old Shafali and Mandhana shared a record 143-run opening partnership as India posted 185 for 4 in their stipulated 20 overs at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium here. The duo recorded the highest partnership for any wicket by an Indian pair in T20Is, bettering the 130 amassed by Thirush Kamini and Punam Raut against Bangladesh in 2013. For the hosts, Selman and Anisa Mohammad snared two wickets each, while Hayley Mathews conceded 39 runs from her four overs and Chinelle Henry bled 26 from the only over she bowled. Chasing 186 to win, West Indies struggled to stitch partnerships with Shermaine Campbelle top-scoring with a 34-ball 33. The lower-order then crumbled under pressure as India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.