Richa Ghosh made history on Thursday by equaling the record for the fastest half-century in women’s T20 internationals. She scored a blistering 18-ball fifty against West Indies in the third and final match of the series in Navi Mumbai. Ghosh’s stunning knock, along with Smriti Mandhana’s earlier half-century, helped India set a new record for their highest-ever total in women’s T20Is – 217/4. India’s previous record was 201/5, set against the UAE in July 2024.
Ghosh came to the crease after Mandhana’s dismissal in the 15th over. She wasted no time, hitting the first ball she faced for a six and continued her aggressive approach. She was fortunate, however, as Deandra Dottin and Chinelle Henry collided in the deep midwicket region, missing a catch when Ghosh was on 10 from 2 balls. Ghosh made West Indies pay for the error by continuing her onslaught.
In the final over, Ghosh smashed another six over midwicket, equaling the all-time record for the fastest half-century in women’s T20Is. She narrowly missed setting the record outright on the previous ball when she failed to connect cleanly with a short ball from Hayley Matthews.
Ghosh’s remarkable strike rate of 257.14 is the highest for any Indian woman in a T20I innings (minimum 50 runs). It also ranks as the third-best overall, behind Sophie Devine’s 70 off 22 balls and Phoebe Litchfield’s 52* off 19 balls. Ghosh’s 18-ball half-century matched the record set by Devine and Litchfield, while Mandhana’s previous best was a 23-ball fifty.
West Indies captain Hayley Matthews chose to field first in the crucial series-deciding match. India’s stand-in skipper, Smriti Mandhana, stuck with an unchanged XI, while West Indies made one change, bringing in Aaliyah Alleyene for Ashmini Munisar.
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