India's Smriti Mandhana scores joint-fastest fifty in women's T20
The Western Storm's star batswoman, Smriti Mandhana, slammed the joint-fastest half-century (off 18 balls) in T20s, against Loughborough Lightning in the KIA Super League. The rain-shortened 6-over game saw Smriti equaling New Zealand's Sophie Devine's record. Notably, Sophie's knock had come against India in 2015. Smriti remained not out on 52 as her team posted 85/2. Western Storm won the match by 18 runs.
Reliving Mandhana's innings
Mandhana took only 18 balls to reach her half-century, in a spectacular display of finesse, confidence, and power. Her knock was laced with five fours and four sixes in an innings which had only 11 powerplay deliveries. Her thunderous knock ensured that Loughborough's unbeaten campaign, in this edition of the league, comes to an end.
What should we know about the KIA Super League?
The Women's Cricket Super League, also known as KIA Super League, kicked off in 2016. There are six teams competing for the title: Lancashire Thunder, Loughborough Lightning, Surrey Stars, Southern Vipers, Western Storm and Yorkshire Diamonds. The ECB is discussing the possibility of replacing this league, from 2020, with a 100-ball city-based tournament known as 'The Hundred'.
Sophie Devine witnesses her record being equaled
Interestingly, New Zealand's Sophie Devine, whose record Smriti has equaled, was watching her thunderous knock on the field. Devine plays for the Loughborough Lightning and is their opener along with Rachel Haynes. She displayed her ability with the bat, as well, amassing 46 runs off 21 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes in the process. However, Loughborough Lightning could only manage 67.
Smriti Mandhana's cricketing career
The 22-year-old Mandhana is one of the best openers in the world. This year, the BCCI named her the 'Best Women's International Cricketer'. She is the first Indian woman cricketer to score a double hundred in a domestic one-day match. In the 2016 Challenger Trophy, Smriti had scored three back-to-back half-centuries. She holds the record of scoring the fastest fifty for India in T20Is.
