Summary

  • Opening day of World Test Championship final in Southampton

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:01 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    #bbccricket

    Hypocaust: Shafali Verma becomes the 4th woman to make two 50+ scores on Test debut: Lesley Cooke (ENG) v IND, 1986 Vanessa Bowen (SL) v PAK, 1998 Jess Jonassen (AUS) v ENG, 2015 Shafali Verma (IND) v ENG, 2021

  2. Ind 83-1published at 16:00 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    Verma 55, Sharma 17

    Ecclestone pitches it up, Verma wallops it back down the ground for four. Easy as you like.

    The opener now has 55 from 68 balls.

  3. Postpublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special

    A superstar of this game already, at 17 years old. We said yesterday when she reached her first half-century that we would see many more, and now we have.

  4. 50 runs

    50 for Vermapublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    Ind 77-1

    Shafali Verma knows no pressure.

    The 17-year-old's name was on all our lips coming into the match. Could she replicate her limited-overs prowess into the Test arena?

    Too right she could. And she did.

    A clip into the leg side brings up her second half-century of the match.

    Verma
  5. Ind 76-1published at 15:56 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    Train by 87 runs

    Now then, Sharma leans in nicely and drills Cross through the covers for four. In fact, the India number three scores seven from three balls.

  6. Postpublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    Alex Hartley
    England World Cup-winning spinner on Test Match Special

    What I love about Shafali Verma, and we've probably said it about a thousand times already, is the timing. It's just immaculate.

  7. Ind 66-1published at 15:50 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    Trail by 99

    It's like two games going on out there. Verma's first thought is to hit the ball for four, with defence an absolute last resort. Deepti is the polar opposite - only attack if the risk is infinitesimal. The deficit is now below 100.

  8. Postpublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special

    You sense with Verma that every ball she defends, there's a big intake of breath, bat raised, ready to pounce but then the realisation of 'wait, no, I have to block it'.

  9. Ind 65-1published at 15:45 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    Trail by 100

    We haven't had this confirmed, but the assumption is tea will be taken at 16:10 BST.

    Cricket is a silly sport.

  10. Postpublished at 15:43 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    Alex Hartley
    England World Cup-winning spinner on Test Match Special

    Just a bit too much width from Kate Cross there, and you could actually hear her on the stump mic shouting 'No, Crossy!'

  11. Ind 63-1published at 15:42 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    Trail by 102

    What's happened to Deepti Sharma during the rain break? Shotless previously, she's returned with a lovely drive through the covers for four.

  12. Postpublished at 15:41 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special

    I am still concerned about the light. You can see shadows protruding from the feet of England's fielders.

  13. Ind 57-1published at 15:40 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    This was taken in sunnier times, before Katherine Brunt bowled to Shafali Verma.

    Verma is at the non-striker's end, with Kate Cross bowling to Deepti Sharma.

    BruntImage source, Getty Images
  14. Postpublished at 15:38 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    The players are back out, with the umpires making their way to the middle. It's grim. Dark and cold. Without floodlights, we wouldn't be playing.

  15. Postpublished at 15:35 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

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  16. Postpublished at 15:32 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    Good news. We start again at 3.40pm.

    Although now I'm wondering if we're going to be in the daft situation of going off again for tea soon...

  17. Postpublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    Good news is that the covers seem to be coming off!

    Hopefully we will get some play shortly, and here's Stephan Shemilt to take you through it.

  18. Postpublished at 15:24 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    If we get any further play today and Shafali Verma goes on to make another half-century, she would become just the fourth woman to make two 50+ scores on Test debut.

  19. Postpublished at 15:20 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    Phil Long
    BBC Test Match Special statistician

    Where else in life would you see a 35-year-old woman sticking her tongue out at a 17-year-old?

    BruntImage source, Getty Images
  20. Postpublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 18 June 2021

    Want another Shafali Verma boundary? Of course you do.