This was her 33rd WODI fifty.
Smriti Mandhana added another feather in her cap, smashing the fastest fifty by an Indian batter in Women’s ODI cricket. She achieved a historic feat during the third ODI between India and Australia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on September 20
Opening the innings for India, Smriti came out all guns blazing and opened her account with a boundary on the very second ball she faced in the innings. She then took Megan Schutt under the radar in the next over, smashing three fours on the trot, displaying her intent.
The southpaw accumulated 20 runs from the veteran off-spinner Asheligh Gardner’s first overs, hitting two fours and a six. India crossed the 50-run mark within the fifth over. She continued to attack, smashed a couple of fours and a six against Kim Garth, collecting 17 runs in the next over.
Mandhana reached the milestone with a classic extra cover drive on a flighted delivery bowled by Gardner. She raced to her half-century off just 23 balls. Mandhana’s quick-fire knock included nine fours and two sixes. That’s 40 runs from boundaries alone.
Overall, this was the joint fourth fastest fifty. West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin holds the record for the fastest fifty in Women’s ODIs, having reached the feat off just 20 deliveries against Sri Lanka Women in 2012-13. The list is followed by her compatriot, Healy Mathews (21), Nat Sciver Brunt of England (22), Australia’s Meg Lanning (23), and Ashleigh Gardner (23).
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Riding on Beth Mooney’s record-breaking century, Australia women posted their joint-highest team total in WODIs of 412. Mooney smashed the joint second fastest hundred in women’s ODI Cricket, with compatriot Karen Rolton. She came all guns blazing and showed no mercy on any of the Indian bowlers. The left-hand batter prominently targeted the first three balls of the over. Mooney scored 138 off 75 balls, her best score in the 50-over format, reaching the landmark in just 57 balls. Her knock was laced with 23 fours and a six. The southpaw’s explosive innings left the hosts reeling and exposed serious flaws ahead of the highly anticipated Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. Apart from Mooney, Georgia Voll and Ellyse Perry also scored fifties.
In reply to the mammoth total, India needed a blistering start from the vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, and Pratika Rawal. While Rawal departed cheaply, it’s Smriti Mandhana who continued her dream form and provided the swashbuckling start. Mandhana’s brisk knock saw India cross the 50-run mark in the fifth over, setting the tone for India’s chase. The Indian batter took only 27 more deliveries to convert into a hundred, reaching the landmark in just 50 deliveries. Mandhana now holds the record for the second-fastest hundred in WODIs. This is also the fastest century by an Indian batter across men’s and women’s cricket.
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