IND vs WI: Richa Ghosh smashes 18-ball half century to equal all-time record; India score their highest total in women’s T20Is | Cricket News
Richa Ghosh equalled the record for the fastest-ever half century in women’s T20Is, smashing a 18-ball fifty against West Indies in the third and final match of the series on Thursday in Navi Mumbai. Her knock, and Smriti Mandhana’s half century earlier, powered India to their highest total ever in women’s T20Is: 217/4. India’s previous best was 201/5 against UAE at the Asia Cup in July 2024.
Coming into bat after Smriti Mandhana’s dismissal in the 15th over, Ghosh wasted no time. She hit the first ball she faced for a six and didn’t look back. The Indian wicketkeeper however was helped along the way as Deandra Dottin and Chinelle Henry got in each other’s way to miss a catch in the deep midwicket region. Batting on 10 off 2 balls at that time, Ghosh made WI pay severely for the make.
With a six over midwicket in the last over of the innings, Ghosh equalled the all-time record. Off her previous delivery, she missed the chance to have the record outright as she couldn’t cleanly connect with a short ball bowled Hayley Matthews.
Ghosh’s strike rate of 257.14 is also the highest for an Indian woman in a T20I innings (min. 50 runs) and overall third best behind Sophie Devine (70 off 22) and Phoebe Litchfield (52* off 19). Ghosh’s 18-ball half century equalled the record set Devine and Litchfield. India’s previous best was a 23-ball effort Mandhana.
West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews opted to field against India in the series-deciding third and final T20I here on Thursday.
Indian stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana went with an unchanged XI, while the visitors made one change bringing in Aaliyah Alleyene in place of Ashmini Munisar.
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