Shabnim Ismail bowled the fastest recorded delivery in women’s cricket in the Women’s Premier League match between the Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals on Tuesday.
The South African clocked a speed of 132.1 km/h (82.1 mph), recorded on the broadcast speed gun, while bowling at the Delhi captain, Meg Lanning, hitting her front pad before the resulting lbw appeal was waved away.
Asked about the delivery in her post-match interview, shown on the WPL website, Ismail said: “I don’t actually look at the big screen when I’m bowling.”
Ismail’s sole wicket of the game cut short Shafali Verma’s cameo as Delhi finished on 192 for four, with Mumbai going on to lose by 29 runs.
In an interview with Sky Sports in 2022, the England fast bowler Issy Wong said that bowling 80mph (129 km/h) speeds would become “normal” in the future. She said: “Someone is going to get there and it will be normal, I guess. It could be anyone. If you’ve got the wind behind you and you are running downhill and there’s a bit of dew about it might help.”
