Nisshin, September 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Shafali Verma smashed her maiden white-ball century as India posted a commanding 195/4 against Bangladesh in the Asian Games semifinal at Korogi Sports Park on Sunday.
Shafali remained unbeaten on 100 off 49 balls, becoming the first player to score a century in women’s cricket at the Asian Games. Her explosive innings featured three fours and nine sixes as India finished just short of the 200-run mark.
The nine sixes also helped Shafali set a new record for the most sixes by a female cricketer in T20Is in a calendar year. She moved past Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu’s previous mark of 32 sixes in 2024 and now has 35 maximums in 2026.
Before the match, Shafali had 26 sixes and needed six more to surpass Athapaththu’s record. She achieved the feat during her unbeaten century.
The nine sixes also put Shafali level for the most sixes in a single innings in women’s T20Is, joining West Indies batters Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin.
Most sixes in a calendar year in Women’s T20Is:
- 35 — Shafali Verma, 2026
- 32 — Chamari Athapaththu, 2024
- 25 — Chamari Athapaththu, 2026
- 25 — Harmanpreet Kaur, 2018
- 21 — Sophie Devine, 2018
- 21 — Sophie Devine, 2020
- 21 — Fatima Sana, 2026
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur provided further support with 40 off 33 balls, including six fours, while Smriti Mandhana earlier scored a brisk 37 off 19 deliveries.
Mandhana also created history during her knock, becoming the leading run-scorer across men’s and women’s T20I cricket. She surpassed former New Zealand batter Suzie Bates and took her tally to 4,788 runs in 171 innings.
Mandhana entered the match with 4,751 runs in 170 innings and needed just eight runs to overtake Bates. She reached the mark early in her innings after hitting two fours and two singles in her first seven balls.
Mandhana and Bates had already moved ahead of Pakistan batter Babar Azam on the overall T20I run-scoring list, with Mandhana now extending the gap.
Most runs in T20I cricket (men’s and women’s):
- Smriti Mandhana — 4,788
- Suzie Bates — 4,758
- Babar Azam — 4,596
- Jos Buttler — 4,292
- Harmanpreet Kaur — 4,287
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