152 and counting: Deepti Sharma becomes leading wicket-taker in women’s T20Is

NEW DELHI: India all-rounder Deepti Sharma created a record on Tuesday by becoming the highest wicket-taker in women’s T20 internationals. She now has 152 wickets in the format.Deepti had been level with Australia’s Megan Schutt on 151 wickets before the match. She went past the mark during the final T20I against Sri Lanka at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The milestone came in the 14th over of Sri Lanka’s innings when she dismissed Nilakshika Silva. India are leading the five-match series 4-0.Earlier, Deepti had already become the first Indian, across men’s and women’s cricket, to reach 150 T20I wickets. She touched that landmark during the third T20I against Sri Lanka last week after getting the wicket of Kavisha Dilhari. She has taken 152 wickets, with best figures of 4 for 10.In women’s ODIs, Deepti is the eighth-highest wicket-taker overall and India’s second-highest after Jhulan Goswami. She has picked up 162 wickets in 121 matches at an average of 27.32, including best figures of 6 for 20. Her ODI record includes three four-wicket hauls and four five-wicket hauls. In Test cricket, she has taken 20 wickets in five matches at an average of 18.10, with one four-wicket haul and one five-wicket haul.Earlier on Tuesday, India posted 175 for seven against Sri Lanka in the fifth and final women’s T20I in Thiruvananthapuram. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored 68, while Arundhati Reddy remained unbeaten on 27. India were 77 for five after 10 overs before Harmanpreet steadied the innings as the team pushed for a 5-0 series sweep.