Shafali Surpasses Mandhana’s Fifty-Plus Record as India Seal Zimbabwe Series

Shafali Verma overtook opening partner Smriti Mandhana for the most fifty-plus scores in a calendar year in women’s T20Is, smashing 55 off 25 balls as India defeated Zimbabwe by nine wickets on Sunday to clinch the three-match series with a game to spare.

Shafali’s ninth fifty-plus innings of 2026, comprising a century and eight half-centuries, took her past Mandhana’s eight fifties in 2024. The Times of India

Chasing 103, India raced home in 8.5 overs, with skipper Mandhana finishing unbeaten on 47 off 25 deliveries. Their 96-run opening partnership ensured Zimbabwe had little opportunity to defend their modest total.

SHAFALI AND SMRITI TAKE CHARGE

The Indian openers brought up the team’s fifty in 4.3 overs and accelerated further as both found the boundary repeatedly.

Mandhana struck five fours off Nyasha Gwanzura in the fifth over. Shafali followed by hitting Michelle Mavunga for two fours and a six in the next, taking the chase firmly beyond Zimbabwe’s reach.

Shafali completed her half-century in 24 balls before Beloved Biza dismissed her for 55. Her innings contained six fours and four sixes, with 48 of her runs coming through boundaries.

Mandhana then completed the victory with a six, finishing with six fours and two sixes. Anushka Sharma remained unbeaten on one as India secured an unassailable 2-0 lead.

A RECORD YEAR GATHERS PACE

Shafali’s latest innings extended a prolific year in which she has scored 922 runs in 26 T20I innings, averaging 38.41 at a strike rate above 165.

The opening partnership added two more milestones. Their 96-run stand was Shafali and Mandhana’s ninth fifty-plus partnership of 2026, the most by any pair in a calendar year in women’s T20Is. They also became the first pair to aggregate more than 1,000 partnership runs in a calendar year in the format.

India, meanwhile, registered their 17th T20I victory of 2026, surpassing their previous calendar-year best of 16 wins in 2018.

BOWLERS KEEP ZIMBABWE IN CHECK

Earlier, Zimbabwe chose to bat but struggled to build momentum as India reduced them to 30/3 in 8.1 overs.

Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and captain Josephine Nkomo offered resistance through a 45-run fourth-wicket partnership. Mugeri-Tiripano made 34 off 32 balls, including five fours, while Nkomo remained unbeaten on 27 off 35 deliveries.

Zimbabwe finished on 102/8 after their 20 overs.

Niki Prasad returned 2/7 from two overs, while Kranti Gaud took 1/15 from four and Deepti Sharma claimed 1/13 from three. Shree Charani and Nandni Sharma also picked up a wicket each.

The bowlers had kept the target within comfortable reach. Shafali and Mandhana ensured the chase was over before the ninth over was complete.

With inputs from ANI