Smriti Mandhana issues stark warning to Pakistan with record T20I century
Smriti Mandhana produced a stunning batting display against Hong Kong on Thursday, smashing a record century and sending a stark warning to Pakistan ahead of their clash in the Women’s Asia Cup on September 5.
The Indian opener reached her hundred in just 57 balls to become the first Indian woman to score multiple centuries in T20Is. Her latest milestone also took her to 18 centuries in international cricket, moving her clear of Australia’s Meg Lanning and South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, who each have 17.
India vs Hong Kong Women’s Asia Cup: Update | Scorecard
Mandhana’s innings came at an important time for India. The seven-time champions opened their campaign with a 94-run win over Thailand, but their batting showed vulnerability as several top-order batsmen struggled.
MANDHANA SHIFT UP AFTER A MODERATE START
Initially, Mandhana took her time before going on the attack in Hong Kong. She brought up her half-century from 39 balls, but then accelerated dramatically.
The left-hander started finding the boundary with more regularity in the middle overs. She drove a counter delivery over the offside before pulling out and sweeping the Hong Kong bowlers into the gaps. She then attacked Maryam Bibi and unleashed back-to-back sixes – one straight down the ground and the other over deep square leg.
Mandhana moved into the 90s with four back-to-back deliveries in the 14th over, first turning a short ball towards deep square leg, then stepping down the pitch and lofting one over deep extra cover.
Soon after, she had a fortune. In the 95th minute, Mandhana swept Alison Siu high to deep mid-wicket, only for the fielder to waste what should have been a straightforward effort. She immediately made Hong Kong pay, smashing another four at deep mid-wicket.
At 96, Mandhana needed four more to make history. Marina Lamplough fell slightly outside off and Mandhana stayed behind, got on top and sliced it past the fielder at deep backward to complete her century off 57 balls.
The hundred also made Mandhana only the second batsman after Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththa to score a century in the Women’s Asia Cup T20.
The milestone adds further significance ahead of India’s meeting with Pakistan on September 5. Mandhana also broke Mithali Raj’s record as the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket, having surpassed Suzie Bates earlier in the tournament.
With Pakistan following, Mandhana’s explosive hundred gave India’s arch-rivals an early glimpse of the challenge ahead.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
03 Sep 2026 21:23 IST