Fatima Sana entered the record books after she smashed the fastest half-century in women’s T20I history during Pakistan’s third T20I against Zimbabwe in Karachi. The Pakistan captain reached his fifty in just 15 deliveries, breaking the previous benchmark of 18 balls jointly held by Sophie Devine, Phoebe Litchfield and Richa Ghosh. The Indian keeper scored an 18-ball fifty during the encounter West Indies in December 2024.
Her breathtaking knock also equaled the fastest fifty recorded in all women’s T20 cricket, matching feats achieved by Marie Kelly for Warwickshire in 2022 and Laura Harris for Otago in Super Smash 2025. Before Sana’s strike, Pakistan’s fastest T20I fifty was Nida Dar, who reached the milestone in 20 balls against South Africa in 2019.
First up in the series finale, Pakistan were already well placed at 152/4 when Sana walked in during the 17th over. She wasted little time settling in, collecting a boundary off her opening delivery from Michelle Mavunga before launching a ferocious attack on the Zimbabwean bowlers. Kudzai Chigora bore the brunt first as Sana hit four consecutive boundaries in one.
The real carnage came in the 19th over against Nomvelo Sibanda. Sana unleashed a sequence of 4, 4, 6, 6 and 4, plundering 24 runs from the over to move to 48 from just 14 balls. Saira Jabeen also played fluently at the opposite end.
Sana reached the record milestone with a pair off the bowling of Zimun in the final over before finishing unbeaten on a stunning 62 off just 19 deliveries, an innings studded with 10 fours and two sixes. Jabeen was not out on 50 off 32 balls as Pakistan amassed 223/4, their second highest total in women’s T20Is.
Zimbabwe never threatened in reply and were dismissed for 90. Pakistan’s bowling unit dominated, with Sadia Iqbal and Nashra Sandhu sharing five wickets, while Sana also chipped in with 1/28.
Sana has enjoyed a sensational run in T20Is this year. She is currently Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in the 2026 format, amassing 229 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 206. She also produced her career-best T20I score earlier this year – a superb 90 off 41 balls against South Africa.
FASTEST FIFTY IN WOMEN’S T20IS
- Fatima Sana (Pakistan Women) – 15 balls vs. Zimbabwe Women, Karachi (15 May 2026)
- Sophie Devine (New Zealand Women) – 18 balls vs. India Women, Bengaluru (11 July 2015)
- Phoebe Litchfield (Australia Women) – 18 balls vs West Indies Women, Sydney (October 2, 2023)
- Richa Ghosh (India Women) – 18 balls vs West Indies Women, DY Patil Stadium (19 December 2024)
- Nida Dar (Pakistan Women) – 20 balls vs South Africa Women, Benoni (22 May 2019)
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Published on:
May 16, 2026 09:51 IST
