---
title: "Smriti Mandhana Passes Mithali Raj With 94th International Fifty"
canonical: "https://readcricket.com/2026/09/13/smriti-mandhana/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "News"
published: "2026-09-13T16:36:38Z"
modified: "2026-09-13T16:36:38Z"
---

# Smriti Mandhana Passes Mithali Raj With 94th International Fifty

India opener Smriti Mandhana recorded her 94th fifty-plus score in international cricket during Sunday’s Women’s T20 Asia Cup final, surpassing Mithali Raj to establish a new milestone.

The left-hander anchored a record 129-run opening partnership alongside Shafali Verma at the Dubai International Stadium. While Verma unleashed an initial boundary barrage to strike a 24-ball half-century, Mandhana paced her 59 from 39 deliveries to complement her explosive partner.

India reached 183 for five after Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss. The captain told the [Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/smriti-mandhana-and-shafali-verma-break-several-records-as-onslaught-blows-sri-lanka-away-in-asia-cup-101789313358910-amp.html) that “having a score on the board is always positive” as they set a target for the defending champions.

## Adapting To The Anchor Role

Mandhana has transitioned from a pure stroke-maker into a reliable top-order presence. Her dismissal via a mix-up with Kaur triggered an immediate slowdown, highlighting her structural importance against an attack that utilised [Chamari Athapaththu’s bowling evolution](https://readcricket.com/2026/09/12/sri-lanka-captain-backs-tactics-ahead-of-womens-asia-cup-final/) to drag back the scoring rate.

Gunalan Kamalini added a late cameo of 15 from five balls to ensure the innings finished strongly. The earlier 129-run stand broke the previous women’s T20I final record. Mandhana’s knock also pushed her past Suzie Bates’ haul of 4,758 runs, making her the leading run-scorer in women’s T20 internationals.

Sri Lanka must now chase the imposing total, whilst their men’s squad prepares for action in England after [Charith Asalanka assumed the T20I captaincy](https://readcricket.com/2026/09/13/charith-asalanka-named-captain-for-sri-lanka-tour-of-england/) this weekend.