IND vs WI: Star Indian batter equals world record and smashes fastest fifty

New Delhi: India’s dynamic young wicketkeeper-batter, Richa Ghosh, is making headlines once again for her explosive batting skills. In a recent match, Richa Ghosh made history by becoming the fastest Indian batter to score a half-century in women’s T20 International cricket. What's more, she also equaled the world record for the fastest fifty by smashing sixes all around the ground. Adding to India's stellar performance, Smriti Mandhana set a new world record with her blistering half-century to help Team India post a massive total of 217 runs in the third T20 against West Indies. This impressive score is also India's highest in T20 International cricket. With players like Richa and Smriti in top form, the future looks bright for Indian women's cricket.

5⃣0⃣ in just 1⃣8⃣ balls!

Richa Ghosh creates history!

She now has the joint-fastest T20I fifty (in women’s cricket)

Live ▶️ https://t.co/Fuqs85UJ9W#TeamIndia | #INDvWI | @IDFCFirstbank pic.twitter.com/YoxIb3NM2E

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) December 19, 2024

Six on the first ball, then record fifty:
This storm of Richa Ghosh was seen on Thursday evening, 19 December, at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Richa started batting indiscriminately from the very first ball. Richa came to the crease after Smriti Mandhana was out in the 15th over. Playing her first ball in the same over, Richa played a big shot straightaway and hit a brilliant six on the long off-boundary. This style of hers continued till she was out in the 20th over.

21-year-old right-handed batsman Richa then smashed every West Indies bowler and focused on collecting boundaries. In no time, Richa hit 3 fours and 5 sixes. With her 5th six, Richa completed her second half-century in T20 International. Her fifty came in just 18 balls, which is not only the fastest half-century for India, but also equals the record of the fastest fifty in women’s T20 International. Before Richa, New Zealand’s veteran Sophie Devine and Australia’s young batter Phoebe Litchfield also hit fifties in 18 balls each.

Team India’s record score, Mandhana also shined:
Richa was out on the fifth ball of the 20th over. She scored a brilliant 54 runs in her 21-ball innings. During this, she made an explosive partnership of 70 runs in just 32 balls with young batter Raghavi Bisht. On the basis of this, Team India scored 217 runs in 20 overs by losing only 4 wickets, which is now the highest score of the Indian team in T20 International. Earlier, Team India had scored 201 runs against UAE this year.

Before Richa and Raghavi, star opener Mandhana, who is also captaining the team in the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur, played a big role in taking Team India to this level. Mandhana scored a stormy half-century in 28 balls and returned after scoring 77 runs in just 47 balls. With this innings, she also became the batsman to score 50 or more runs 30 times in the Women’s T20 International. Along with her, Jemima Rodrigues also scored 39 runs in 28 balls.