On Monday, December 23, 2024, Bengal Women made headlines as they went on a rampage to register an unbelievable victory against Haryana Women in a high-scoring run chase at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. The record books were re-written as Bengal Women set a new world record for completing the highest-ever run chase in women's List-A cricket. The record was set during the quarter-final match of the Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy 2024.

In the process, they managed to surpass the previous best record of 309 set by Northern Districts against Canterbury in New Zealand’s domestic competition back in 2019. Bengal Women were tasked with chasing a near-impossible target of 390 thanks to Shefali Varma's blitzkrieg of 197 in 115 balls. Dhara Gujjar and Sasthi Mondal gave Bengal a steady start with a century opening stand the crushing blow came off the bat of Tanushree Sarkar (113 off 83) and Priyanka Bala (88 off 81) who laid down a solid foundation during the middle overs to steer Bengal to victory with five wickets & five balls to spare. 

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A look at the top five highest run chases in women's one-day cricket

It requires no mention that Bengal's brutal 390 against Haryana tops the list of highest run chases ever recorded in women's one-day cricket. Second to them is Northern Districts Women's 309 achieved against Canterbury in a domestic List-A tournament in New Zealand back in 2019. 

In international cricket, Sri Lanka Women currently hold the record of completing the highest run chase of 305 successfully against South Africa earlier this year at the Senwes Park in Potchefstroom. Chasing any score beyond the 300-run mark is a rarity in women's cricket as no other team apart from Sri Lanka has managed to do so in women's international one-dayers. 

390 - Bengal v Haryana, 2024

309 - Northern Districts v Canterbury, 2019

305 - Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2024

292 - Western Storm v Thunder, 2021

290 - Dragons v Typhoons, 2023

Tanusree Sarkar and Priyanka Bala power Bengal to the semis

After being inserted to bat first, Shefali hit the ground running and launched a massive score of 197 to single-handedly propel Haryana to a monstrous first innings score of 389. Shafali Verma scored 197 runs off 115 balls with 22 fours and 11 sixes and laid the platform for Haryana with a 173-run partnership for the opening wicket with Reema Sisodia, who made 58 runs off 72 balls. 

In response, Bengal completely flipped the script in their favor and blew the Haryana bowlers away by chasing down the target with five balls to spare. Tanusree turned out to be the key architect of the run chase smashing a valiant 113 off 83 balls at a strike-rate of 136.14 with 20 fours. Once she was dismissed, Priyanka Bala battled it out and notched up an unbeaten 88* to take Bengal over the finishing line. Haryana's bowling lacked penetration.

Only three bowlers including Mendhiya, Rana, and Vasistha offered some control with the ball picking up four wickets in total. However, they did not get adequate support from the rest of the bowling group and as a result, Haryana threw it away despite finishing strongly with the bat in the first innings.