New Delhi: Mumbai Indians’ star bowler, Shabnim Ismail, etched her name in history on Tuesday by delivering the fastest recorded ball in the history of women’s cricket during a Women’s Premier League (WPL) clash between MI and Delhi Capitals.
Shabnim Ismail’s fastest delivery
In the third over of the match, Shabnim Ismail’s thunderous delivery reached an astonishing speed of 132.1 kmph on the speedgun. This momentous feat not only marked a personal triumph for Ismail but also set a groundbreaking record as the first time a bowler in women’s cricket has breached the 130 kmph mark.
Shabnim Ismail has tonight bowled the fastest recorded delivery in women's cricket history ⚡️ #WPL2024 pic.twitter.com/l54kgMUbaS
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 5, 2024
Meg Lanning, facing Shabnim Ismail’s sheer pace, managed to survive the LBW appeal despite the ball hitting the front pad. Ismail’s previous record stood at 128 kmph, achieved against West Indies in 2016, and she had also breached the 127 kmph mark twice during the 2022 ODI World Cup.
In a post-match interview, Ismail expressed her unawareness of the speed of her delivery, stating, “I do not look at the big screen when I am bowling.”
Despite Ismail’s exceptional performance, her side suffered a 29-run defeat against Delhi Capitals. The Capitals, batting first, posted a formidable total of 192 runs, with notable fifties from Meg Lanning and Marizanne Kapp. In response, MI fell short, amassing 163 runs after 20 overs.
Shabnim Ismail, a former South Africa pacer, has consistently been a force in women’s cricket, participating in all eight previous ICC Women’s T20 World Cups. Her retirement from international cricket after the last year’s tournament on home soil hasn’t dampened her impact, as evidenced by her recent record-breaking delivery in the Women’s Premier League.
