India flamboyant opener Smriti Mandhana smashed a half-century in just 18 balls playing for Western Storm against Loughborough Lightning in the ongoing season of the KIA Super League. She has also equaled the record of Sophie Devine for the fastest women’s T20 half-century in women’s cricket.
Mandhana, the first Indian to play in the KIA Super League (England’s flagship T20 tournament for women), finished the match with a score of 52 off 19 balls in a rain-hit match. She hit 5 fours and 4 sixes in her innings, getting to her half-century with a six. She now holds the record along with Sophie Devine of New Zealand.
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Smriti had even come close to scoring the fastest half-century in KSL history in her debut match against Yorkshire Diamonds in a successful run chase but she was dismissed for 48 off 20 balls. Earlier in 2018, the elegant southpaw smashed a 50 off 25 balls against England which bettered her own personal record (50 off 30 balls) set against Australia, just a few days before the match against England.
India & @WesternStormKSL's @mandhana_smriti hit an 18-ball fifty against @LightningKSL – the fastest in Super League history!
Also the joint-fastest 50 in all women's T20, joint with Sophie Devine
She ended on 52 off 19 #KSL2018
— ICC (@ICC) July 29, 2018
Talking about her knock, Smriti said, “I had a pretty good season at the top of the order last year, but having someone of her class come in has taken some of the pressure off me”. Even the teh Sri Lankan maestro Kumar Sankkar praised her for her knock, he said, “Watching @mandhana_smriti putting bowlers to the sword here at Taunton. She is brilliant to watch. Great ambassador and great skill.”
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
In a career so far, Mandhana has amassed 857 runs in 40 T20Is (with a high score of 76) and 1464 runs in 41 ODIs (with a high score of 135) since making her debut in both formats five years ago.
However, it wasn’t all about batting as Mandhana even taught her captain Heather Knight some Hindi during their partnership. The Storm skipper took to Twitter to share the same: “A lot of fun batting with @mandhana_smriti yesterday. She taught me how to call in Hindi mid partnership!! ♀️”
A lot of fun batting with @mandhana_smriti yesterday. She taught me how to call in Hindi mid partnership!! 🤷🏼♀️ https://t.co/jdJtNZGCRd
— Heather Knight (@Heatherknight55) July 23, 2018
