Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh’s Fifties Help Set New Record For IND-W’s Highest Team Total In T20Is

Last Updated:December 19, 2024, 21:28 IST

Richa Ghosh and Smriti Mandhana led the charge as India Women created history with their highest T20I team total in the 3rd T20I against the West Indies.

Richa Ghosh (L) and Smriti Mandhana (R) smashed fifties in the third T20I against WI-W. (Image: X)

With the series hanging in the balance, the Indian Women’s team’s batting unit managed to put up a record-breaking performance as they scored a whopping 217 runs in the third Women’s T20I international against West Indies at the DY Patil Stadium in Thursday.

India despite starting quiet after the dismissal of Uma Chetry, saw the stand-in skipper, Smriti Mandhana continue her stellar run of performances as she racked up her third consecutive fifty to help up the scoring rate.

Jemimah Rodrigues and Raghvi Bist chipped in with handy cameos of 39 and 31 respectively, to continue India’s stellar run with the bat. But it was Richa Ghosh who stole the show as she struck a quickfire 54 in 21 balls to help India go past their previous record. Sajeevan Sajana, who came in after Ghosh’s dismissal in the penultimate delivery, closed out with a boundary.

Ghosh’s fifty came at just 18 deliveries, equaling the record held by New Zealand’s Sophie Devine and Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield in the process. Mandhana’s half-century also made her second Indian female batter after Mithali Raj to score a hat-trick of fifties and also went past Suzie Bates with the most 50+ scores in T20Is.

India’s record tally goes past their previous best against the UAE (201/4) at Dambulla in July 2024. It also marks the second time in Women’s T20Is that they have gone past the 200-run barrier. Another coincidence is that the men’s team had also achieved a similar feat when they smashed 297/6 against Bangladesh in Hyderabad.

Despite the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian Women’s team have showcased a new level of hitting ability with the stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana leading the line as captain and at the top of the order.

The Indian bowlers would have to do their job to ensure that the West Indies do not mount a chase. The likes of Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin will be key as the two could turn the tides should they get going in this record chase.

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Navi Mumbai, India