NEW DELHI: India wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh on Thursday cracked an 18-ball half-century in the series decider against the West Indies, equalling the record for the fastest fifty in women’s T20I history.
Her blistering knock also set a new benchmark as the quickest fifty ever scored by an Indian women’s batter in the format.
At the DY Patil Sports Academy, Richa lit up the stage for a crowd of over 47,204 spectators with a superb 54 off just 21 balls, featuring three fours and five sixes.
Her explosive innings, combined with captain Smriti Mandhana’s stellar 77, propelled India to a record total of 217 for 4 — their highest-ever in women’s T20Is.
This surpassed India’s previous best of 201 for 5, achieved against the UAE during the Women’s Asia Cup in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, earlier this year.
Richa entered the fray after Smriti, who had registered her third consecutive half-century of the series and her 30th overall in T20Is, departed for 77.
Richa wasted no time, smashing a six off her first ball from Deandra Dottin and following it with a four through backward point.
She then unleashed a flurry of boundaries against Deandra, Aaliyah Alleyne, and Hayley Matthews.
Richa reached her fifty in just 18 balls, equaling the all-time record held by New Zealand’s Sophie Devine and Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield.
With a strike rate of 257.14, Richa’s fireworks came to an end just one ball before India’s innings concluded.
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