Smriti Mandhana Smashes Fastest T20I Fifty By an Indian Woman

Smriti Mandhana smashes the fastest T20 half-century by an Indian woman.

Smriti Mandhana smashed the fastest T20 international half-century by an Indian woman on Sunday.

(Photo: AP)

A whirlwind century by opener Danielle Wyatt helped England pull off a record chase and crush India by seven wickets in their second T20 triangular series match on Sunday.

While India were on the losing side, there was a record in the Indian innings with Smriti Mandhana smashing the fastest T20 fifty by an Indian woman.

Batting first, Mandhana and Mithali Raj took the English bowlers to task as they stitched a 129-run stand for the first wicket.

The left-handed Mandhana took charge from the fourth over. She hit two boundaries and a six off Katie George, as India amassed 20 runs in the over.

Mandhana, who hit a brisk 67 in the match against Australia Women, showed her class once again as she hit three fours in the sixth over and the hosts raced to 52 in the powerplay period.

The in-form opener did not look back and continued the attack with a flurry of boundaries and completed her half century in just 25 balls.

The two openers compiled their 100-run stand in 61 balls and this was the second century stand between Raj and Mandhana.

Mandhana, who posted her highest individual score in T20s and also the fastest fifty by an Indian, dismantled the English attack by hitting 12 fours and two sixes. She was dismissed in the 13th over by Natalie Sciver after being caught by Beaumont.

India however managed to get a massive 198 on the board. Yet another record.

However, Wyatt's heroics made the chase a walk in the park for the visitors as they romped home with eight balls to spare.

The earlier highest chase in women's T20 internationals was also by England, which came against Australia, in Canberra in 2017.

Wyatt (124 off 64 balls) made her intentions clear, hitting three fours in the first over. With a flurry of boundaries and sixes, she forged a 61-run opening- wicket stand with Bryony Smith (15).

The opener spared no bowlers – be it the pacers or spinners – as she completed her fifty in 24 balls and her hundred in 52 balls.

This was Wyatt's second T20 international century and it was only befitting that she completed it with a boundary. She found an able partner in Tamsin Beaumont (35 off 23 balls) who played the second fiddle in their 96-run second wicket stand, which took the game away from India.