Harmanpreet Kaur surpassed Smriti Mandhana to take the top spot in India’s women’s Twenty20 international cricket run scorer. She accomplished this on Sunday, July 21st, during India’s Women’s Asia Cup T20 match against the UAE in Dambulla.
After winning the toss, the UAE chose to bowl first, and Smriti was the first batsman to be out at number 13. Shafali Verma hit a brutish 37 off 18 balls before getting out. Stepping out to the crease, Harmanpreet needed just thirty more runs to surpass Smriti’s 3,378 total. The Indian skipper, who hit seven fours and one six on his way to a scorching 66 off 47 balls, displayed some exquisite strokework. The Punjab batsman formed half-centuries with Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh before being eventually run out in the last over.
Harmanpreet averaged 28.22 with a strike rate of 107.35 to bring her total number of T20Is to 3,415 from 171 matches. Right now, she is 37 runs ahead of her constable.
In WT20Is, Harmanpreet Kaur and Ghosh lead India to their first-ever 200+ total.
Aside from Shafali and Harmanpreet, Richa’s outstanding batting performance mesmerised the Indian crowd. With 12 fours and one six, the wicketkeeper-batter scored 64 runs off just 29 balls. As the Women in Blue amassed an intimidating 201/5 in their 20 overs, she stayed unbeaten.
India managed to score more than 200 in a WT20I match for the first time. At the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, their greatest team total in the game’s shortest version was 198/4 versus England. It’s interesting to note that the Three Lions thoroughly pursued the 199-run mark.
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However, the inexperienced UAE batting lineup will have a difficult time reaching a 202-run mark. India, the seven-time winners of the Asia Cup, can make it two straight wins after defeating Pakistan by seven wickets to start the tournament. On the other side, the UAE lost their opening matchup with Nepal.