India opener Shafali Verma smashed the fastest fifty in Women’s Asia Cup history on Sunday, reaching the milestone in 24 balls during the 2026 final against Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Stadium. Opening partner Smriti Mandhana also contributed a half-century as India posted 183/5.
Record-Breaking Knock Sets the Pace in Dubai
Shafali Verma produced a blistering display of aggressive strokeplay at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium after India won the toss and elected to bat first. India opted to bat first after captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss, and Shafali immediately took charge alongside Smriti Mandhana at the top of the order. From the outset, Shafali attacked with intent, repeatedly finding the boundary with powerful pulls and drives. She took particular aim at Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, striking her for a six, another six and a four in her opening over. Her assault helped India reach 57 without loss in the Power Play and 98 by the halfway stage.
Shafali completed her fifty in just 24 deliveries during the eighth over when she hit Kavisha Dilhari for a boundary, surpassing Smriti Mandhana’s previous tournament record of a 25-ball fifty set against Sri Lanka during the 2022 edition in Sylhet. The right-hander now has three fifty-plus scores in the ongoing edition, the joint-most by a player in a single Women’s Asia Cup edition, alongside Chamari Athapaththu’s three such scores during Sri Lanka’s victorious 2024 campaign. She is the leading run-scorer in the tournament this year, with 236 runs in five matches at an average of 47.20 and a strike rate of 171.01, including three fifties and a best score of 68.
The innings ended when Shafali attempted an aggressive stroke off spinner Chamudi Praboda, resulting in a catch taken by Athapaththu inside the circle. She finished with 68 runs off 39 balls, featuring nine fours and two sixes, reaching her half-century in just 24 balls, while Smriti also made a solid 59 off 39 balls, with five fours and three sixes. Shafali’s 24-ball fifty is the fastest in Women’s Asia Cup history, beating Mandhana’s record of a 25-ball fifty against Sri Lanka in the 2022 edition.
Historic Opening Partnership Dominates the Final
Shafali and Mandhana combined to construct a 129-run opening partnership for the first wicket, establishing the highest opening partnership in Women’s Asia Cup history. The stand eclipsed the previous record held by Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma’s 128-run stand against the UAE in the 2022 edition. It is also the highest partnership in the final of any women’s T20I tournament, going past the 120-run stand by West Indies stars Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor against Australia in the 2016 Women’s T20 World Cup final. While Shafali dictated the early scoring pace, Mandhana accelerated after her partner’s dismissal to complete her innings, finishing with 59 runs off 39 balls.
Milestones and Tournament Statistics
The summit clash saw the Indian opening duo reach another significant career marker. Smriti and Shafali have now recorded six 100-plus stands in women’s T20Is, tying with UAE’s Esha Oza and Theertha Satish for the most 100-plus stands by any pair in Women’s T20Is. Both pairs have now registered six such partnerships, while New Zealand’s Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine are next on the list with five. The record highlights the remarkable consistency Mandhana and Shafali have developed as India’s opening combination.
Shafali’s performance in the final secured her third fifty-plus score of the 2026 tournament, matching the record for the most fifties in a single edition of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup, a mark previously established by Chamari Athapaththu during Sri Lanka’s title-winning 2024 campaign. Shafali reached the milestone with a four off Kavisha Dilhari, taking her tally to three 50-plus scores in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026.
Innings Conclusion and Match Context
India made one alteration to their playing XI for the final, with G Kamalini replacing Pratika Rawal, who was rested for the fixture.
Harmanpreet Kaur stated that they were going to bat first, noting that it was a very important game for them to put up a score on the board.
Harmanpreet Kaur, India captain
Following the dismissal of the openers, the middle order experienced a slowdown against disciplined bowling from Sri Lanka. Captain Harmanpreet contributed 14 runs from 14 balls, while Richa Ghosh added 17 runs from 13 deliveries. A late cameo from Bharti Fulmali, who scored an unbeaten 15 runs off five balls including a four and a six, pushed India’s total to 183/5 at the end of 20 overs.
