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Smriti Mandhana produced a sensational knock to power India into the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 semifinals. The opener smashed 124 off just 64 balls against Hong Kong in Dubai on Thursday as India secured a massive 137-run victory.
Mandhana’s innings was packed with 14 fours and seven sixes. More importantly, her century helped her rewrite the record books on a memorable evening.
The left-hander hit her 18th international hundred across formats, moving past Australia great Meg Lanning, who had 17 centuries. Mandhana also became the first Indian woman to score two T20I hundreds.
Her big innings also saw her go past Mithali Raj’s tally of 10,868 international runs. Mandhana is now the leading run-scorer in Women’s International cricket.
India posted 193/5 after Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave the team a strong start. The pair added 74 runs for the opening wicket, with Shafali contributing 28 off 17 balls.
Mandhana took some time to settle in, but once she found her rhythm, there was little Hong Kong could do to stop her. She took full advantage of loose deliveries and found boundaries all around the ground.
She reached her 18th international century in the 17th over before going past Mithali Raj’s record in the following over. Two sixes down the ground took her past the former India captain on the all-time run-scoring list.
Mandhana was at her elegant best throughout the innings, particularly when she sent the ball over the bowler’s head for sixes.
Hong Kong, who were playing in the Asia Cup for the first time since 2012, never looked close to chasing the target. They managed only 16/1 in the powerplay before the Indian bowlers took complete control.
Nandni Sharma was among the standout performers with the ball, troubling the Hong Kong batters with movement in both directions. She dismissed opener Mariko Hill with a superb delivery.
Hong Kong were eventually bowled out for just 56 in 16.2 overs.
The victory was India’s second in as many matches and strengthened their position in Group A. The tournament favourites will next face Pakistan on Saturday.