Shikha Pandey becomes 1st Indian Women cricketer to take 3 wickets and score half-century in same ODI

Shikha Pandey's all-round performance

Shikha Pandey became the first Indian Women cricketer to pick three-wicket haul and score half-century in the same match. Varun Arora finds out the list of all women cricketers who have achieved this feat in their careers. 

India Women were one down in the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against South Africa Women and needed win the second ODI to stay in the competition. Shikha Pandey then came up with an all-round performance in the second ODI as she picked up three wickets and scored 59 runs which took India to a six-wicket victory. Shikha who bowls fast-medium started with the wicket of Lizelle Lee in the 12th over of the match. She then dismissed Nadine Moodley and Marizanne Kapp and ended with figures of three for 19.

When India, came on to bat chasing a modest target of 186 posted by South Africa Women, Shikha contributed 59 runs off 56 balls with the bat which was also her highest score in ODIs. She came out to bat at No. 4 after the dismissal of Mithali Raj in the 22nd over of the match. Shikha completed her half-century in 52 balls. She was also involved in a 50-run partnership with Harmanpreet Kaur. Her knock was studded with eight boundaries and one six. She was dismissed in the 40th over but till that time India Women had already sealed the match.

Here is a list of first 10 players to achieve this feat:

Shikha became the 34th women cricketer to achieve this feat and the only Indian to do it so far.

(Varun Arora is a reporter with CricketCountry. He started as a medium-fast bowler, converted to an opening batsman but finally settled with his passion of writing about the game. His Twitter handle is @varunjgd)