Shabnim Ismail Rockets to Record-Breaking Speed in Women’s Cricket

Former South African pace bowler Shabnim Ismail etched her name in history books on Tuesday, unleashing the fastest delivery ever recorded in women’s cricket during a Women’s Premier League (WPL) match.

Ismail, playing for the Mumbai Indians against the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, clocked a searing 132.1 kilometers per hour (82.08 miles per hour) delivery, eclipsing the previous mark for the first time in history.

The thunderbolt rattled the pads of former Australian captain Meg Lanning in the second ball of the third over.

This feat marked a significant milestone for women’s cricket, showcasing the increasing athleticism and raw pace within the sport. Prior to this, Ismail herself held the record with a 128 kph delivery bowled against the West Indies in 2016.

She came close to replicating that feat twice during the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, clocking 127 kph on both occasions.

In a post-match interview, downplaying her historic achievement, Ismail remarked, “I don’t actually look at the big screen when I’m bowling. My focus is entirely on executing my plans and delivering the ball effectively.”

While the match result may not have gone her team’s way, Ismail’s record-breaking delivery undoubtedly left a lasting impression on the cricketing world, further pushing the boundaries of women’s fast bowling.

Despite her record-breaking effort, Ismail’s individual performance proved costly. She conceded 46 runs in her four overs, claiming a solitary wicket as the Mumbai Indians fell short by 29 runs against the Delhi Capitals.

Earlier, Delhi Capitals posted a mammi total on board because their openers provided a terrific start to the innings. Later on, the momentum was capitalised by Jemimah Rodriguez who 69 off 33 balls.

At one stage, Rodriguez had only scored 13 off first 14 balls of her innings. This comprehensive win puts Delhi Capitals right at the top of the WPL table with 8 points in 5 matches.