In a remarkable display of pace, Mumbai Indians’ Shabnim Ismail delivered the fastest ball in women’s cricket history on Tuesday, clocking at an astonishing 132.1 kilometers per hour (kph). The thunderous delivery struck the pads of Delhi Capitals captain Meg Lanning during their Women’s Premier League (WPL) encounter.
Ismail, the South African cricketer, unleashed the lightning-fast delivery with the second ball of the third over, etching her name in the record books. While the LBW appeal was turned down, Ismail, aged 35, became the first woman to surpass the 130kph mark, as confirmed by the International Cricket Council.
This isn’t Ismail’s first brush with record-breaking pace. She already holds the title for the fastest delivery in women’s international cricket, having clocked 128kph against West Indies back in 2016.
Despite her historic feat, Ismail expressed dissatisfaction with her overall bowling performance against Delhi, conceding 46 runs in four overs as Mumbai suffered a 29-run defeat at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Reflecting on her achievement, Ismail admitted that she was initially unaware of her rapid delivery and expressed disappointment with her bowling quality. She remarked, “Personally, I’m very disappointed with my bowling. But Delhi Capitals played really well today.”
Even Mumbai’s bowling coach, former India quick Jhulan Goswami, confessed to being unaware of Ismail’s record-breaking speed. However, he emphasized that as long as Ismail continues to bowl well and hit the right areas, her expensive spell is of little concern. Goswami affirmed, “She’s enjoying at the moment, we’ll let her continue with tha
