Smriti Mandhana First Indian to Hit 4,000 Runs in Women's T20Is
Mandhana is also the fastest to reach 4,000 T20I runs in terms of balls faced, achieving the milestone in 3,227 balls, compared to Bates’ 3,675 balls
Visakhapatnam: Star Indian opener Smriti Mandhana scripted history as she became the first Indian batter to hit 4,000 runs in Women’s T20I cricket.
The left-handed batter achieved the historic milestone during the first T20I against Sri Lanka Women at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Mandhana scored 25 runs in the match.
With this feat, Mandhana also became only the second woman overall to reach the 4,000-run mark in T20Is, after New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, who has 4,716 runs.
Mandhana is also the fastest to reach 4,000 T20I runs in terms of balls faced, achieving the milestone in 3,227 balls, compared to Bates’ 3,675 balls.
Additionally, Mandhana is now just 42 runs away from completing 10,000 runs in women’s international cricket. She has so far accumulated 4,007 runs in T20Is, 5,322 runs in ODIs, and 629 runs in Test cricket.
Turning to the match, Jemimah Rodrigues played a match-winning unbeaten half-century as India Women, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, registered a dominant eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka Women in the series opener.
With this commanding win, the Women in Blue took a 1–0 lead in the five-match T20I series. Chasing a modest target of 122 runs, Jemimah smashed an unbeaten 69 off 44 deliveries, including 10 fours, as India chased down the target in just 14.4 overs.
Jemimah also equalled Mithali Raj’s record of four 50-plus scores against Sri Lanka in Women’s T20Is.
During the chase, Mandhana and Jemimah stitched a crucial 54-run partnership for the second wicket, putting India in a strong position.
Jemimah then shared an unbeaten 55-run stand for the third wicket with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who remained not out on 15, guiding India to an eight-wicket win.
Earlier, Sri Lanka Women were restricted to 121/6 in their 20 overs after being asked to bat first. Opener Vishmi Gunaratne top-scored for the visitors with 39 runs off 43 balls, while Harshitha Samarawickrama added 21.
Among the Indian bowlers, Deepti Sharma was the most economical, returning figures of 1/20 in four overs, including a maiden. Kranti Gaud picked up 1/23 from three overs, while Shree Charani claimed one wicket while conceding 30 runs in her four overs.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka Women 121/6 in 20 overs (Vishmi Gunaratne 39, Harshitha Samarawickrama 21; Deepti Sharma 1/20) vs India Women (Jemimah Rodrigues 69*, Smriti Mandhana 25; Inoka Ranaweera 1/17).
