London: India’s left-arm opener Smriti Mandana once again etched her name in the history books with a one-ball fifty on the opening day of the one-off Test against England at Lord’s on Friday.
Mandhana, who opened the Indian innings after batting England captain Nat Sciver-Friend in the first women’s Test at this iconic venue, struck at a blistering pace, eventually reaching her half-century with eight fours and a six off 50 balls.
Her 50-ball half-century was the third-fastest half-century by an Indian player in women’s Tests, bettering the previous record of 51 balls she registered against Australia in 2021.
Sangeeta Dabir, who reached the milestone off 42 balls against England in 1995, is second in the elusive list with a 49-ball fifty against the same opposition in 2023.
Fastest women’s Test fifties by Indian batsmen
- Sangeeta Dabir – 42 balls against England in 1995
- Subha Satish – 49 balls against England in 2023
- Smriti Mandhana – 50 balls against England in 2026*
- Smriti Mandhana – 51 balls against Australia in 2021
Notably, Mandana was at pains to convert his record-breaking half-century into a well-deserved century as he fell victim to Issy Wong late in the second session, anchoring India’s high score of 83 with 11 fours and a six.