Indian batter Smriti Mandhana equalled Suzie Bates’s record of most 50+ scores in the T20I format following her fifty against West Indies in the 2nd T20I.
Mandhana continues her incredible form in the T20I format after scoring 62 in the second T20I against the Windies in the ongoing three-match T20I series. Following this, she registered her 29th fifty in the format, which came in her 141st inning, and now holds the record for joint most 50+ scores alongside New Zealand’s Bates.
India headed into the second T20I with a 1-0 lead at the DY Patil Stadium. Mandhana was India’s stand-in skipper as Harmanpreet Kaur sustained a niggle in her knee while batting in the first T20I and was henceforth unavailable for the game.
The hosts were put into bat first, and Mandhana shouldered the dual responsibility of captaining and spearheading the batting department.
India lost early wickets in the form of Uma Chetry and Jemimah Rodrigues, but Mandhana stood tall at the other end. The stylish left-hander played with fluency and precision, during the middle overs, held the innings at a crucial juncture.
Mandhana counterattacked specifically the Windies’ spinner, and her innings were laced with nine boundaries and a six. She was involved in a 56-run stand for the fourth wicket with the partnership coming as a recovery having lost early wickets.
Mandhana brought her 29th fifty off 37 balls before her innings came to an end for 62 with Matthews dismissing her which also marked her second consecutive fifty of this series having crafted 54 in the first T20I. Her innings helped India to put 159 on the board as she was the top scorer.
Though Mandhana’s effort stood out, it ultimately came in a losing cause as the West Indies chased down the target with ease to win the match by nine wickets and level the series at one each.
Most 50+ Scores in the T20I format:
Smriti Mandhana – 29 (India)
Suzie Bates – 29 (New Zealand)
Beth Mooney – 25 (Australia)
Sophie Devine – 22 (New Zealand)
Stafanie Taylor – 22 (West Indies)
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