Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma produced a batting masterclass as India registered their highest-ever total in Women’s T20 internationals, piling up 221 for two against Sri Lanka in the fourth match of the series on Sunday.
After chasing in the first three games of the five-match series, India were asked to bat first at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali made full use of the opportunity, tearing into the Sri Lankan bowling attack and laying the foundation for a massive score.
Smriti Mandhana scored a fluent 80, while Shafali was just one run short of her maiden T20I century, making 79. The opening pair added 162 runs in just 15.2 overs, which is now India’s highest partnership for any wicket in women’s T20Is.
The duo crossed the 100-run stand for the fourth time together, surpassing their previous best partnership of 143 against the West Indies at Gros Islet in 2019.
Smriti Mandhana also achieved a major career milestone during her knock, becoming only the fourth player in women’s cricket to complete 10,000 international runs across formats. The others on the list are Mithali Raj, Suzie Bates of New Zealand, and England’s Charlotte Edwards.
Shafali continued her fine form in the series, bringing up her third consecutive half-century. She was dismissed in the 16th over, offering a return catch to Nimasha Meepage. Her 79 came off 46 balls and included 12 fours and one six.
Both openers focused more on timing and placement than brute power, consistently finding gaps on both sides of the wicket. A standout moment came in the fourth over when Shafali stepped out and lofted Kawya Kavindi straight down the ground on the final ball, after Mandhana had already hit two boundaries earlier in the over.
Smriti Mandhana, who had been relatively quiet earlier in the series, looked completely at ease. Her innings featured three sixes, all on the leg side, along with a series of elegant drives.
After the openers departed, Richa Ghosh provided the finishing flourish. She smashed an unbeaten 40 off just 16 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur supported her with an unbeaten 16 off nine deliveries.
Richa and Harmanpreet added 53 runs in an unbroken third-wicket stand, comfortably taking India past the 200-run mark and sealing a record-breaking night for the team.
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