India breach record during stunning second win in Women's Asia Cup T20 2024
A brilliant cameo from Richa Ghosh and a splendid half-century from Harmanpreet Kaur led India to their highest total in Women's T20Is.
India recorded their second successive win in the Women's Asia Cup T20 2024 with a 78-run victory over UAE in Group A of the tournament.
Sent in to bat in Dambulla, Shafali Verma set the tone with a fiery 18-ball 37 as the team raced to 56 inside the Powerplay overs despite losing three wickets.
Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues stabilised the innings before the latter was sent back by Kavisha Egodage in the 12th over.
Richa Ghosh walked out thereafter, and joined forces with Harmanpreet Kaur.
Best of Richa Ghosh | Women's T20WC 2023
The duo smashed the bowling to all corners, stitching together a 75-run partnership off just 45 balls.
Harmanpreet brought up her fifty in the 18th over off 41 balls and was eventually dismissed off the first ball of the final over, when the total was still only 181.
Richa went about smashing five successive boundaries to end the innings on a high as India posted a 200-plus total for the first time in Women's T20Is.
Their previous best total was 198/4 against England in 2018.
Highest totals for India in Women's T20Is
| Total | Opposition | Year |
| 201/5 | v UAE | 2024 |
| 198/4 | v England | 2018 |
| 194/5 | v New Zealand | 2018 |
| 187/5 | v Australia | 2022 |
| 185/4 | v West Indies | 2019 |
Richa Ghosh ended up with 64* off just 29 balls in a sizzling knock where she smashed runs at a strike-rate of 220.68. This is the highest strike-rate recorded by an India batter in women's T20Is when facing over 25 balls.
This was also her first half-century in the format for India.
In the other game, Pakistan were dominant against Nepal, recording a nine-wicket win after the openers Gull Feroza and Muneeba Ali put on a century opening stand.
Chasing 109 for a win, Gull hit a 35-ball 57 while Muneeba remained unbeaten on 46 as Pakistan won with more than eight overs to spare.