Smriti Mandhana’s sublime form with the willow was on fire mode in New Zealand, as she scripted history on Wednesday (6th February) by cracking the fastest half-century for India in the first T20 International of the three-match series against the White Ferns in Wellington.
At Westpac Stadium, Wellington, the Indian opener struck a 24-ball half-century -fastest by an Indian woman in T20 cricket and shattered her own record of a fifty in 25 balls, which left-handed batswoman created last year against England.
The 22-year-old entertained the Wellington crowd with her 34-ball knock of 58 runs laced with three sixes and seven boundaries before being bowled out by Amelia Kerr when India were 58 runs away from the target to win the opener against the White Ferns.
However, Mandhana’s record-breaking innings could not save the match for her side, as Indian Women’s Cricket team suffered a 23-run defeat in the first T20I in Wellington.
Recently, Mandhana grabbed a top spot in the ICC ODI Rankings for Women's batters following her stunning show in the ODI series in New Zealand, left behind Australia’s Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) had said that was a fine recognition for Mandhana, who has played 15 ODIs since the beginning of 2018 and has scored two centuries and eight half-centuries.
(With IANS Inputs)
