Shafali Verma's record 100* off 49 balls powers India to 195/4 vs Bangladesh in Asian Games SF
Synopsis
Shafali Verma didn't just win a semifinal — she wrote herself into cricket history. Her unbeaten 100 off 49 balls at Nisshin is the first century in women's Asian Games cricket, and her 35 sixes this year shatter the women's T20I calendar-year record. On the same day, Smriti Mandhana became the highest run-scorer in T20I history across both men's and women's formats. India's women produced a historic double on a single Sunday.
Key Takeaways
Shafali Verma hit an unbeaten 100 off 49 balls — the first-ever century in women's Asian Games cricket — powering India to 195/4 against Bangladesh in the semifinal at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin , on 20 September 2026 .
Her nine sixes in the innings equal the record for the most in a single women's T20I innings, joining Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin .
Shafali's 35 sixes in 2026 set a new women's T20I calendar-year record, surpassing Chamari Athapaththu's 32 from 2024.
Smriti Mandhana (37 off 19 balls) became the all-time leading run-scorer in T20I cricket (men's and women's combined) with 4,788 runs , overtaking Suzie Bates .
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur added 40 off 33 balls to anchor India's formidable total.
Shafali Verma smashed an unbeaten 100 off just 49 balls — the first century ever scored in women's Asian Games cricket — to propel India to a commanding 195/4 against Bangladesh in the Asian Games semifinal at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, on 20 September 2026. The innings, laced with three fours and nine sixes, was not just a match-winning performance but a record-breaking one on multiple fronts.
A Historic Hundred
The right-handed opener became the first-ever player to register a T20I hundred at the women's Asian Games, turning what was already a high-stakes semifinal into a showcase of destructive batting. Her knock powered the Women in Blue to within striking distance of 200, giving India a formidable total to defend against Bangladesh.
Shafali's nine maximums in the innings also equalled the record for the most sixes in a single women's T20I innings, joining West Indies pair Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin on that elite list.
Most Sixes in a Calendar Year — Women's T20Is
Beyond the innings itself, Shafali rewrote the calendar-year record books. Her tally now stands at 35 sixes in 2026, surpassing Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu's mark of 32 maximums set in 2024. Coming into Sunday's game with 26 sixes for the year — six behind Athapaththu's record — she cleared the milestone in spectacular fashion:
Most sixes in a calendar year — Women's T20Is:
1. Shafali Verma — 35 (2026)
2. Chamari Athapaththu — 32 (2024)
3. Chamari Athapaththu — 25 (2026)
4. Harmanpreet Kaur — 25 (2018)
5. Sophie Devine — 21 (2018)
6. Sophie Devine — 21 (2020)
7. Fatima Sana — 21 (2026)
Mandhana Tops All-Time T20I Run-Scorers — Men and Women Combined
Shafali was not the only Indian rewriting history on Sunday. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who departed for a brisk 37 off 19 balls, became the leading run-scorer in T20I cricket across both men's and women's formats, surpassing former New Zealand captain Suzie Bates. Mandhana now has 4,788 runs in 171 innings, having needed just eight runs from the start of the match to claim the record.
Most runs in T20I cricket (men's and women's combined):
1. Smriti Mandhana — 4,788 runs
2. Suzie Bates — 4,758 runs
3. Babar Azam — 4,596 runs
4. Jos Buttler — 4,292 runs
5. Harmanpreet Kaur — 4,287 runs
Support from Mandhana and Harmanpreet
India's innings was built on a foundation laid by Mandhana's aggressive start before Shafali took centre stage. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed a measured 40 off 33 balls, hitting six fours, as India's top order collectively set up the imposing total. The depth of India's batting in this innings underscored their status as firm favourites for the gold medal.
What's Next
India will now face the winner of the other semifinal in the Asian Games women's cricket final, looking to translate their superb batting display into a gold medal. With Shafali and Mandhana in this kind of form, the Women in Blue enter the final as the team to beat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Shafali Verma break in the Asian Games 2026 semifinal?
Shafali Verma became the first-ever player to score a century in women's Asian Games cricket, hitting an unbeaten 100 off 49 balls against Bangladesh on 20 September 2026. Her nine sixes in the innings also equalled the record for the most in a single women's T20I innings.
How many sixes has Shafali Verma hit in 2026 and whose record did she break?
Shafali Verma now has 35 sixes in 2026, surpassing Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu's previous record of 32 set in 2024. She entered the match with 26 sixes for the year and needed nine from the innings to claim the record, which she achieved exactly.
What record did Smriti Mandhana set in the Asian Games semifinal?
Smriti Mandhana became the all-time leading run-scorer in T20I cricket across both men's and women's formats, surpassing New Zealand's Suzie Bates. She now has 4,788 runs in 171 innings, having needed just eight runs at the start of the match to claim the record.
What was India's total against Bangladesh in the Asian Games 2026 women's cricket semifinal?
India posted 195/4 in their allotted overs against Bangladesh at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, on 20 September 2026. Shafali's unbeaten 100, Smriti Mandhana's 37, and Harmanpreet Kaur's 40 were the key contributions.
Who are the top five all-time run-scorers in T20I cricket (men's and women's combined)?
The top five are: Smriti Mandhana (4,788 runs), Suzie Bates (4,758), Babar Azam (4,596), Jos Buttler (4,292), and Harmanpreet Kaur (4,287). Mandhana and Bates are already ahead of the leading men's batter, Babar Azam.
