Mandhana is also the 6th fastest batswoman to score a fifty in the shortest format of the game.
India's vice captain Smriti Mandhana plays a shot during the first Twenty20 international women's cricket match between New Zealand and India in Wellington on February 6, 2019. (Photo: AFP)
Elegant Indian opener Smriti Mandhana on Wednesday, during the opening T20I match of the three-match series against New Zealand, smashed the fastest fifty for India in Women’s T20Is. The first T20I match between the Women-in-Blue and the New Zealand women was played at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
The stylish left-hander scored her half-century off just 24 balls and in the process bettered her own record of fastest fifty which she scored off 25 balls. Earlier, during England’s tour to India, Mandhana smashed a 25-ball fifty and in the process became fastest Indian woman player to achieve the feat. The third spot in the list is taken by India’s T20 skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.
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Fastest fifties for India in Women’s T20I cricket:
24 balls – SMRITI MANDHANA vs NZ, Today
25 balls – S Mandhana vs ENG, 2018
29 balls – Harmanpreet Kaur vs SL, 2018
30 balls – S Mandhana vs AUS, 2018
31 balls – S Mandhana vs AUS, WT20’18#NZWvINDW— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) February 6, 2019
Mandhana is also the 6th fastest batswoman to score a fifty in the shortest format of the game. New Zealand’s Sophie Devine holds the first spot in the list. Devine set the record in 2005 against India when she hammered an 18-ball fifty.
SMRITI MANDHANA IS ON 🔥
The @BCCIWomen opener brings up her seventh T20I fifty off just 24 balls! It’s the fastest T20I half-century by an Indian woman!
Follow #NZvIND live ⬇️https://t.co/MeBHlokIAA pic.twitter.com/HdEH5jhpkJ
— ICC (@ICC) February 6, 2019
Earlier in the day, after winning the toss, Harmanpreet Kaur decided to bowl first. Chasing the target of 160 runs, Mandhana went after the Kiwi bowlers immediately. Mandhana struck seven fours and three sixes during her 58 runs knock.
Mandhana, who is also the top-ranked woman batter in ICC ODI ranking, was also the top scorer in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand in which she scored 196 runs in three innings. The 22-year-old was also given the Woman of the Series award for her performance.
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