Smriti Mandhana produced a record-laden masterclass on 3 September 2026 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, smashing 124 off 64 balls to power India to a 137-run demolition of Hong Kong in the seventh match of the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026. The 30-year-old Indian vice-captain not only registered her second T20I century but also etched her name alongside Sachin Tendulkar by becoming the most century-maker and run-scorer in women’s international cricket across formats.
India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, faced a Hong Kong side captained by Natasha Miles, who won the toss and chose to bowl first. The Indian openers, Mandhana and Shafali Verma, set the tone with a 74-run stand, racing at more than nine runs an over before Verma fell for 28 off 17 to a high full toss from Ruchitha Venkatesh, caught by Marina Lamplough in the deep.
Mandhana, however, went through her gears, forging vital partnerships of 37 with Pratika Rawal, 40 with Richa Ghosh, and a brisk 34 with Harmanpreet Kaur to ensure India posted the tournament’s highest total: 193/5 in 20 overs. Her knock, which ended in an unfortunate run-out in the final over, featured 14 boundaries and seven sixes, including a record 98 runs from boundaries in a single Women’s T20I innings for India.
Chasing 194, Hong Kong collapsed under relentless Indian spin. Mariko Hills fell for a four-ball duck in the second over, and although skipper Natasha Miles and wicket-keeper Yasmin Daswani added 27 for the second wicket, Deepti Sharma’s dismissal of Daswani (11 off 23) triggered a rout.
The spin trio of Deepti Sharma (3/9), Prema Rawat (2/12) and Shree Charani (2/16 in 3.2 overs) dismantled the batting order, bundling Hong Kong out for 56 in 16.2 overs. Kranti Gaud’s economical opening spell (1/5 in 3 overs) set the platform for the spinners to exploit pressure and turn.
Mandhana’s century was her second in T20Is, the most by any Indian in the format, and her 18th international hundred across formats, surpassing Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt (17 each) for the most in women’s cricket. She also overtook Mithali Raj’s tally of 10,868 runs in 314 innings to become the all-time leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket, reaching 10,880 runs in 303 innings.
With 95 sixes, she now holds the record for the most sixes by an Indian in Women’s T20Is, and her 11 Player of the Match awards in the format place her second only to Harmanpreet Kaur and Mithali Raj (12 each) for India in the format.
The victory marked India’s second-biggest margin of victory by runs in T20Is and secured their place as the first team to reach the semi-finals of the 2026 Asia Cup. Mandhana was named Player of the Match for her career-best 124, a knock that combined power, timing, and record-breaking intent.
India will now face arch-rivals Pakistan, led by Fatima Sana, in their final league fixture on 5 September from 8 PM IST at the same venue, with both sides eyeing to continue their momentum ahead of the knockout stage.
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