54 off 21 balls: Richa Ghosh equals 'Fastest 50' world record as India post 217/4 against West Indies

After Smriti Mandhana's (77) explosive innings, Richa Ghosh (54) equaled the world record for the fastest half-century (18 balls) in women's T20, helping India win the third and final match of the series against West Indies here on Thursday. Scored 217 runs for 4 wickets in the match. This was India's highest score so far in the shortest format, surpassing 201/5 against UAE in the Asia Cup earlier this year. The 21-year-old Ghosh scored 54 runs (3×4, 5×6) off just 21 balls, equaling the record for the fastest half-century jointly held by New Zealand's Sophie Devine and Australia's Phoebe Litchfield.

Ghosh's powerful attack came after Mandhana became the leading run-scorer in the format this year, scoring 763 runs in 23 T20 matches, scoring her third consecutive half-century in the series and eighth of the year.

She went ahead of Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu in the list of run-scorers.

After making the mistake of not putting enough runs on the board in the second game, India took the pressure off Mandhana, scoring at the rate of almost 10 runs per over.

His pull shots were as captivating as his strokes on the off-side, sometimes effortlessly clearing the in-field to stamp his authority.

Mandhana's fireworks in the powerplay and the subsequent two-ball duck from Uma Chhetri in the first over put an end to Rodrigues' slow start, in which she also survived a leg-before review against Hayley Matthews.

However, Rodrigues came up well after a slow start to score 39 off 28 balls with four fours and set a strong platform for a bigger score as the duo added 98 runs off 55 balls.

At No. 4, Raghavi Bisht (31 not out off 22 balls, 2×4, 1×6) made her first mark on the international circuit when she danced down the track to hit Karishma Ramharrack's first career boundary – a six – and scored runs. On both sides of the wicket.

Bisht played an excellent role with both Mandhana and Ghosh, adding 44 and 70 runs respectively with their senior batting partners while also gaining valuable experience.

But Mandhana again missed the century and returned after scoring 77 runs in 47 balls with the help of 13 fours and one six. This was his highest score in this series and he was dismissed by Deandra Dottin in the 15th over.

India then took the right step by sending in hard-hitter Ghosh ahead of Deepti Sharma and the young wicketkeeper-batsman once again shone.

In front of over 40,000 spectators at the DY Patil Stadium here, Ghosh displayed his prowess at the crease with powerful hits, with the ball almost hitting the stands, especially on the leg side.