Smriti Mandhana equals Mithali Raj's record for most 50-plus scores in women's international cricket

Smriti Mandhana (Pic credit: BCCI)

NEW DELHI: Smriti Mandhana added another major milestone to her already glittering international career on Thursday, equalling Mithali Raj's record for the most 50-plus scores in women's international cricket during India's Women's Asia Cup clash against Hong Kong China in Dubai. Mandhana brought up her half-century off 40 balls, reaching the landmark in style by smashing Iqra Sahar over deep backward square-leg for a six. It was her 93rd 50-plus score in women's international cricket, taking her level with India's legendary former captain Mithali Raj at the top of the list. The milestone came during an innings in which Mandhana went on to produce one of the most extraordinary T20I performances of her career. Mithali, who retired from international cricket in 2022, had held the record outright with 93 scores of 50 or more across formats. Mandhana's latest half-century finally brought her alongside the Indian batting great. England's Charlotte Edwards is third on the list with 80 50-plus scores, followed by New Zealand's Suzie Bates on 79 and West Indies great Stafanie Taylor and South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt on 74 each.

Most 50-plus scores in women’s international cricket

93 - Mithali Raj

93 - Smriti Mandhana

80 - Charlotte Edwards

79 - Suzie Bates

74 -Stafanie Taylor

74 - Laura Wolvaardt

Mandhana matches Mithali, then shifts gears

Having equalled Mithali's landmark, Mandhana transformed her innings from controlled aggression into an astonishing assault. The left-hander took just 17 deliveries to move from 50 to 100, completing her second T20I century in only 57 balls. In the process, Mandhana became the first Indian woman to score two T20I centuries. Her first had come against England at Trent Bridge in 2025, when she made 112. Her latest hundred also took her tally to 18 centuries in women's international cricket, moving her ahead of Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt, who have 17 each. Mandhana eventually departed in the final over after smashing 124 off 64 balls, with her spectacular innings containing 14 fours and seven sixes.

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The knock also became the highest individual score in Women's T20 Asia Cup history, surpassing Chamari Athapaththu's unbeaten 119 against Malaysia in 2024.

Another record partnership with Shafali

Mandhana's latest landmark also came alongside another record involving her long-time opening partner Shafali Verma. The pair's 50-plus partnership was their 29th in T20Is, comfortably the most by any pair in the format. UAE's Esha Oza and Theertha Satish are second on the list with 23, while Australia's Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney have 20. Across formats, Mandhana and Shafali have now registered 44 50-plus partnerships in women's internationals. The next-best pair is New Zealand's Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates, with 37. Mandhana also strengthened her position at the top of the list for 50-plus scores in women's T20Is, with her latest effort taking her tally to 37. Australia's Beth Mooney is next with 33.

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