Fatima Sana registered a 15-ball fifty in Pakistan's third T20I against Zimbabwe, the fastest in the women’s game.
Batting first in Karachi, Pakistan’s openers put on a 58-run stand before Muneeba Ali departed for a 17-ball 22. Ayesha Zafar (45 in 28) and No.3 Saira Jabeen (50* in 32) took the score to 92 in 9.3 overs as Pakistan looked set for another formidable total.
However, two wickets in the space of a run pegged them back, but Iram Javed's 29 (20 balls) steadied the innings. When she fell in the 17th over, Pakistan were 152-2, having slightly lost their way after their blistering start.
3rd T20I, Pakistan Women vs Zimbabwe Women
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Fatima Sana scores 15-ball fifty, fastest in women's T20Is
Enter Fatima Sana. The skipper, who had one fifty in 35 innings before the game, hit a four on the first ball that she faced, a prelude of what was to come. Her next five balls contained four more boundaries, as she raced away to 24 off eight deliveries. She went berserk in the penultimate over: after playing a dot on the first ball, she went on to hit 4, 4, 6, 6, 4 off Nomvelo Sibanda. She eventually reached her fifty with a four in the last over of the innings, in 15 balls, a world record in women's T20Is.
The previous record was held jointly between Sophie Devine, Phoebe Litchfield and Richa Ghosh, all of whom had reached the mark off 18 balls. Sana hit 62* off 19, with 10 fours and two sixes, with her innings guiding Pakistan to 223-4.
It is the second time in history that the side have crossed the 200-run mark in T20Is. The first instance also came in the ongoing series, when the hosts made 237-5 in the first T20I earlier in the week. Pakistan have already clinched the T20I series 2-0, having earlier whitewashed Zimbabwe 3-0 in the ODI series.
Fastest fifties in women's T20Is, full list
| Player | Balls | Match | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fatima Sana | 15 | Pakistan Women v Zimbabwe Women | 15/05/2026 |
| SFM Devine | 18 | New Zealand Women v India Women | 11/07/2015 |
| Phoebe Litchfield | 18 | Australia Women v West Indies Women | 02/10/2023 |
| Richa Ghosh | 18 | India Women v West Indies Women | 19/12/2024 |
| Nida Dar | 20 | South Africa Women v Pakistan Women | 22/05/2019 |
| AJ Healy | 21 | Australia Women v Ireland Women | 11/11/2018 |
| SFM Devine | 21 | New Zealand Women v Ireland Women | 17/11/2018 |
| A Capsey | 21 | England Women v Ireland Women | 13/02/2023 |
| DJS Dottin | 22 | West Indies Women v Australia Women | 14/06/2009 |
| RH Priest | 22 | New Zealand Women v India Women | 13/06/2015 |
| NM Anil | 22 | Oman Women v Saudi Arabia Women | 21/03/2022 |
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