Smriti Mandhana smashed a record-breaking 124 off 64 balls as India Women registered a commanding 137-run victory over Hong Kong in their Group A encounter of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday.
Batting first, India posted 193 for five, with Mandhana leading the charge. In reply, Hong Kong were bowled out for just 56 in 16.2 overs as India’s bowlers produced a disciplined performance.
Deepti Sharma was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for nine runs in three overs. Shree Charani and Prema Rawat claimed two wickets each, while Nandani Sharma also took two wickets for just six runs.
Mandhana leads India’s batting charge
India’s opening pair of Mandhana and Shafali Verma got the innings off to a strong start, adding 74 runs.
Verma contributed 28 off 17 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes, before being dismissed by Ruchitha Venkatesh.
Mandhana then shifted gears after the powerplay and took control of the innings with an attacking display.
Pratika Rawal scored 10 off 12 balls before being dismissed by Joyleen Kaur, while Richa Ghosh made 11 off 13 deliveries.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored 10 off nine balls before being dismissed late in the innings.
For Hong Kong, Marina Lamplough claimed two wickets, while Venkatesh and Kaur took one wicket each.
Hong Kong collapse in chase
Chasing 194, Hong Kong struggled from the beginning against India’s bowling attack.
Kranti Gaud started with a maiden over before Nandani Sharma struck in the second over, bowling Mariko Hill for a duck.
Hong Kong managed only 16 runs for the loss of one wicket during the powerplay.
Yasmin Daswani was dismissed for 11 by Deepti Sharma, while Natasha Miles top-scored with 15 before being removed by Prema Rawat.
Rawat also dismissed Hong Kong captain Kary Chan, while Nandani claimed her second wicket by removing Maryam Bibi for seven.
Shree Charani then dismissed Marina Lamplough for 14 as Hong Kong slipped to 55 for six.
Deepti Sharma ran through the lower order in the 16th over, claiming three wickets in quick succession to leave Hong Kong nine down.
Charani completed the innings in the following over as Hong Kong were bowled out for 56.
Mandhana surpasses Mithali Raj
Mandhana’s innings also saw her create history in women’s international cricket.
With her 124-run knock, she surpassed former India captain Mithali Raj to become the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket across all formats.
Mandhana’s tally reached 10,880 runs, moving her past Mithali’s 10,868.
New Zealand’s Suzie Bates is third on the list with 10,740 runs, followed by England’s Charlotte Edwards with 10,273 and West Indies’ Stafanie Taylor with 10,007.
-ANI
