In recent years, fast bowling in women’s cricket has gotten much better. While fans enjoy seeing boundaries and big hits, nothing compares to the excitement of a fast bowler giving their all. In the past, teams like the West Indies in the 1970s and 1980s, and famous pairs like Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thompson from Australia, and later Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar, made fast bowling really thrilling.
Similarly, in women’s cricket, players like Cathryn Fitzpatrick and Jhulan Goswami became known for their speed. But because there weren’t good ways to measure speed in women’s cricket, there wasn’t much data until recently.
Now, the importance of fast bowling in women’s cricket is growing, and we have more data to track it.
So, let’s look at the five fastest deliveries ever recorded in women’s cricket.
1. Shabnim Ismail – 132.1 kph, WPL 2024
South African cricketer Shabnim Ismail threw the fastest ball ever in women’s cricket during a match between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals in 2024. This happened on March 5th.
During the game, in the third over of the first innings, Ismail bowled the ball at a speed of 132.1 kilometers per hour. This speed surprised Meg Lanning, the Delhi team captain. The ball hit her leg, but the umpire did not declare her out, despite appeals from the Mumbai team.
When asked about her record-breaking throw after the match, Ismail said she doesn’t watch the big screen while bowling.
Despite Ismail setting a new record with her fast ball, it did not change the outcome of the match significantly. The Delhi Capitals won the game by 29 runs, which put them at the top of the league table. Ismail did not have a great day overall, as she gave away 46 runs in four overs and only managed to take one wicket.
ALSO READ: Here are the top 5 best finishers of IPL 2024
2. Ellyse Perry – 130.5 kph, WPL 2023
During the first Women’s Premier League in 2023, Ellyse Perry from Australia achieved something incredible. She bowled a cricket ball faster than any other woman before, reaching a speed of 130.5 kilometers per hour!
Playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore team, Perry’s fast bowling helped her team win against the UP Warriorz. She also took three wickets for only sixteen runs in four overs, which prevented the other team from scoring many runs. Because of her efforts, the Royal Challengers Bangalore won their first match of the season after losing five times in a row.
Even though Perry performed exceptionally well, her team didn’t do so well overall. They only won two out of eight matches and finished second from the bottom in the league.
Still, Perry’s amazing bowling shows why she’s considered one of the best cricket players ever, having won the T20 World Cup six times!
3. Shabnim Ismail – 128.3 kph, WPL 2024
Shabnim Ismail showed her fast bowling skills in the first game of WPL 2024 against the Delhi Capitals in Bengaluru. She bowled a very fast ball at 128.3 kilometers per hour.
In that match, Ismail bowled exceptionally well, conceding only 24 runs and taking one wicket in her four overs. Her performance helped the Mumbai Indians restrict the Delhi Capitals to 171/5 in 20 overs. The Mumbai Indians won the match in a thrilling finish with a six on the last ball hit by Sajeevan Sajana.
Despite her impressive start, Ismail unfortunately missed the next two matches due to an injury. In the three matches she played so far this season, she has taken five wickets with an average of 17.60 runs per wicket and an economy rate of 7.33 runs per over.
4. Shabnim Ismail – 128 kph vs West Indies, 2016
Shabnim Ismail gained fame as the fastest bowler of her era when she bowled at 128 kilometers per hour in a series against the West Indies in 2016. She was born in Cape Town and played cricket.
She troubled the West Indian batters by taking seven wickets, averaging less than nine runs per wicket. In two back-to-back matches, she took three wickets each, which helped her team draw the series.
In the final match, Ismail only conceded 22 runs in four overs, helping South Africa win the series 2-1.
5. Shabnim Ismail – 128 kph vs. England, 2023 T20 World Cup
In one of her final major matches, Shabnim Ismail, a well-known South African cricketer, displayed her skills once again.
During a tense game at the 2023 T20 World Cup, South Africa scored 164/4. Ismail, who has played cricket for a long time, bowled exceptionally well. She dismissed three key players: Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, and Heather Knight.
Her bowling was crucial in South Africa’s victory by six runs. Ismail’s fastest delivery in the game was 128 kilometers per hour, thrilling the fans in Cape Town, where the match took place.
Although South Africa did not win the final match against Australia, Ismail retired as South Africa’s top wicket-taker in T20 and ODI matches.
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