Former South African pace bowler Shabnim Ismail etched her name into the history books on Tuesday, unleashing the fastest delivery ever recorded in women’s cricket.
Playing for the Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) clash against the Delhi Capitals, Ismail clocked a searing 132.1 km/h (82.08 mph) delivery, shattering the previous record. This is the first time a ball in women’s cricket has surpassed the 130 km/h mark.
The thunderous delivery, the second ball of the third over, struck the pads of former Australian captain Meg Lanning. Notably, Ismail retired from international cricket after last year’s T20 World Cup held in South Africa, having participated in all eight previous editions of the tournament.
Despite her record-breaking feat, Ismail’s team, the Mumbai Indians, fell short by 29 runs against the Delhi Capitals. While bowling four expensive overs, she managed to scalp one wicket, conceding 46 runs.
In a post-match interview, downplaying her achievement, Ismail revealed, “I don’t actually look at the big screen when I’m bowling.”