India’s Smriti Manhana, who played for Western Storm yesterday at the KIA Super League against Loughborough Lightning slammed the fastest T20 half-century. She remained unbeaten on the score of 52 off 19 balls with 5 fours and 4 sixes. With this, Mandhana equated the record of New Zealand's Sophie Devine, which she set in 2015 against India in Bangalore. The match was reduced to six overs per side due to rains and Western Storm won the game by 18 runs.

With 11 sixes from 3 innings, Mandhana also became the highest six hitter of the tournament and went past the West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor who had smashed nine sixes in 2016. In 2017, New Zealand's Rachel Priest also hit nine sixes in the tournament. The official page of Western Storm hailed her innings and wrote, “The fastest fifty in Kia Super League history!! Take a bow @mandhana_smriti!! #StormTroopers.”

Check out the video highlights of her innings here. Even the BCCI lauded Mandhana for her feat. The tweet read, “Congratulations to @mandhana_smriti. In a game shortened to 6 overs, she gets a half century in just 18 balls for @WesternStormKSL. It is also the quickest 50 in the Kia Super League.”

Earlier in her debut match for the England club, Mandhana missed out on her half-century by a couple of runs. She scored 48 from 20-ball against Yorkshire Diamonds with five sixes and three fours. While playing against England for India, Mandhana made 50 runs in 30 balls.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 30, 2018 09:37 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).