Smriti Mandhana scores joint-fastest fifty in women’s T20

Indian women’s team opener Smriti Mandhana scored an astounding 18 ball fifty in a rain-hit encounter between Western Storm and Loughborough Lightning at the KIA Super League in Taunton on Sunday.

Earlier, Smriti Mandhana made news for becoming the first Indian women to play in England’s flagship T20 tournament for women. And with the blistering knock that included five fours and four maximum’s, she holds the record for scoring the fastest fifty in KIA Super League.

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The twenty over match was cut down to six over a side as rain showed respite at the right time. Mandhana and Rachael Priest opened for Western Storm and had a mesmerising time at the crease. The Indian opener blasted bowlers all around the park whereas Priest played second fiddle in the 71 run opening partnership off just 30 deliveries.

Only six overs?@mandhana_smriti doesn’t care… she’s smashing it all over the park ??

➡ https://t.co/PyBOfpvlZH pic.twitter.com/HaskastbZt

— England and Wales Cricket Board (@ECB_cricket) July 29, 2018

Veteran Sri Lankan batsman Kumara Sangakkara praised Mandhana for her impressive knock of unbeaten 52 off just 19 balls. She scored with a strike rate of 273.68.

Watching @mandhana_smriti putting bowlers to the sword here at Taunton. She is brilliant to watch. Great ambassador and great skill

— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) July 29, 2018

The Indian opener who made her debut five years ago seems to be back in form after a quite phase after the World Cup in England where she was in limelight for her hundred against West Indies. Mandhana has scored 857 runs in 42 T20Is with a high score of 76. She also scored a 25 ball fifty against England in March.