Smriti Mandhana Breaks Mithali Raj’s Record as India Storm Into Asia Cup Semifinals

Smriti Mandhana produced a record-breaking masterclass in Dubai as India crushed Hong Kong by 137 runs to secure their place in the semifinals of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026.

Mandhana smashed a sensational 124, her second T20I century, as India posted 193 for 5 after being asked to bat. Hong Kong never came close to mounting a challenge, folding for just 56 in 16.5 overs as India’s bowlers completed a ruthless victory.

The win gave India a second consecutive victory in the tournament and guaranteed their place in the knockout stage, with their final group match against Pakistan still to come on September 5. But the night belonged overwhelmingly to Mandhana.

Her 124 not only powered India to an imposing total but also saw her surpass the legendary Mithali Raj to become the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket. It was a landmark moment in the career of one of India’s greatest batters.

India's innings began cautiously. At the end of five overs, they were 38 without loss, with Hong Kong initially managing to keep the scoring under control. Mandhana was taking most of the strike, while Shafali Verma had faced only six deliveries during the opening five overs.

Then everything changed in the sixth over. Offspinner Marina Lamplough dropped short and full enough for Shafali to attack, and the Indian opener responded with a brutal 22-run over. She smashed two fours and two sixes, including an inside-out loft over deep extra cover and a powerful shovel over deep midwicket.

The assault immediately shifted the momentum. Shafali eventually fell for 28 in the eighth over, caught brilliantly by Lamplough off Ruchita Venkatesh. But by then, the opening pair had already added 74 runs.

India had their platform.

Mandhana turns the innings into a personal record book

Mandhana initially took her time. The left-hander reached her half-century from 40 deliveries, registering her 36th T20I fifty in the process. But once she became comfortable with the surface and Hong Kong's bowling variations, the innings exploded. Her second fifty came in just 18 deliveries.

Mandhana repeatedly moved across to the off side before attacking the leg-side and straight boundaries, finding the arc between deep square leg and long-on with remarkable consistency. There was one moment of danger when she was dropped at deep square leg in the 16th over. Hong Kong had a chance to end an extraordinary innings, but the opportunity went begging.

Mandhana made them pay immediately. She accelerated further and reached her century, becoming the first Indian woman to register multiple T20I hundreds. Her century also took her to the top of the women's international century charts, moving beyond the previous mark shared by Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt.

Then came perhaps the most historic passage of her innings. In the 18th over, Mandhana smashed three consecutive sixes against Venkatesh. During that assault, she moved past Mithali Raj's tally for most runs in women's international cricket.

She had gone from record-chasing to record-holder in the space of a few deliveries. Mandhana was eventually dismissed for 124 following a run-out mix-up, walking off to a standing ovation. Her innings had taken India to 193 for 5, with the second half of the innings producing 107 runs.

If Mandhana had made India's batting look effortless, the Indian bowling attack made Hong Kong's chase look almost impossible. Nandini Sharma continued her outstanding tournament after her three-wicket haul against Thailand. Opening the bowling, she produced excellent seam movement and control.

Her first wicket came after a superb sequence against experienced batter Mariko Hill. Three successive away-swingers were followed by an in-ducker that beat Hill for pace and movement, leaving Hong Kong 4 for 1. Nandini later claimed another wicket to finish with 2 for 6 from three overs.

From there, India's spinners took complete control. Deepti Sharma led the attack with 3 for 9, while Prema Rawat, Shree Charani and the rest of India's spin unit squeezed the life out of the chase.

Hong Kong struggled to find boundaries and accumulated an extraordinary number of dot balls. Their second-wicket partnership between Yasmin Daswani and Natasha Miles, worth 27, was their best of the innings, but even that was built without much attacking intent.

Once Deepti dismissed Daswani for 11, the collapse accelerated. Miles was removed six balls later by Rawat, and wickets began falling in clusters.

Prema claimed two wickets, including her first international wicket, while Charani also entered the wickets column. Deepti then added another wicket in her spell, taking her to the top of the women's T20I wicket-taking charts. Hong Kong lost their final five wickets in just 11 deliveries.

From 54 for 5, they crashed to 56 all out.

India march into the semifinals

The final margin 137 runs underlined the gulf between the two sides.

India's victory was built around two contrasting but equally impressive performances: Mandhana's explosive batting and a disciplined bowling attack that dismantled Hong Kong's chase. For Mandhana, however, the night will live far beyond the result. Her 124 was an innings of timing, acceleration and record-breaking significance. She became the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket, registered her second T20I century and helped India comfortably cross the 190-run mark.

India now move into the semifinals with confidence, knowing they have already secured their place in the knockout stage.

Their next assignment is Pakistan on September 5 in Dubai, but after a night in which Mandhana rewrote the record books and India's bowlers completed a 137-run demolition, India will enter that contest with considerable momentum.