India opener Smriti Mandhana scripted history with a stunning 124 off 64 balls against Hong Kong in the Women's Asia Cup 2026, surpassing Mithali Raj to become the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket across formats. Her record-breaking innings also helped India secure a dominant 137-run victory and book a place in the semi-finals.
Mandhana Rewrites History
Smriti Mandhana produced one of the biggest individual performances of her international career in Dubai, smashing 124 runs from just 64 deliveries against Hong Kong.
Her innings included 14 fours and seven sixes and took her international career tally to 10,880 runs, moving her past Mithali Raj's previous record of 10,868 runs.
The milestone came during India's Group A Women's Asia Cup match at the Dubai International Stadium.
Mithali Raj Record Broken
Mandhana entered the match needing 112 runs to overtake Mithali's career tally. She eventually finished 12 runs ahead of the former India captain.
Mithali had remained the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket with 10,868 runs across Tests, ODIs and T20Is. Mandhana's explosive century finally moved that record into a new era.
The achievement is particularly significant because Mithali's international career spanned more than two decades and established a benchmark for consistency in women's cricket.
18th International Century
Mandhana did not stop at breaking the run-scoring record. Her 124 was also her 18th international century, taking her past Australia's Meg Lanning and South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt, who had 17 centuries each.
She is now the leading century-maker in women's international cricket across formats.
The century was also Mandhana's second in Women's T20Is and her highest T20I score to date.
Record Knock In Dubai
Mandhana's innings transformed India's batting effort after the team was asked to bat first. She dominated the Hong Kong attack and provided the platform for India to reach 193 for five in 20 overs.
Shafali Verma contributed 28, while Mandhana remained the central figure throughout India's innings.
Her seven sixes also helped her move ahead of Harmanpreet Kaur as India's leading six-hitter in Women's T20Is. Her 124 additionally became the highest individual score in the history of the Women's T20 Asia Cup.
India Bowlers Finish Job
India's bowlers then completed a comprehensive team performance.
Hong Kong struggled to build partnerships and were eventually dismissed for 56, giving India a massive 137-run victory. Deepti Sharma claimed three wickets, while Sree Charani, Nandini Sharma and Pratika Rawal contributed two wickets each.
The result was India's second consecutive win in the tournament and confirmed their place in the semi-finals.
Mandhana's Remarkable Journey
Mandhana made her India debut in 2013 and has since become one of the most influential batters in women's cricket.
The record is another landmark in a career that has already included centuries in all three international formats. Her latest performance also demonstrated her ability to combine longevity with explosive T20 batting.
ICC reported that Mandhana had reached 10,880 international runs and 18 centuries at the age of 30 after her historic night in Dubai.
Mithali Hails New Record Holder
The significance of the achievement was heightened by Mithali Raj's response.
Mandhana has previously spoken about Mithali's influence on her career, making the passing of the record particularly meaningful. Raj congratulated Mandhana after the landmark performance, while Mandhana acknowledged the importance of surpassing a player she had admired since her early days.
The changing of the record therefore represents more than a statistical milestone. It marks a symbolic transition between two generations of Indian women's cricket.
Bottom Line: Smriti Mandhana's 124 off 64 balls was far more than a match-winning century. It made her the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket with 10,880 runs, gave her the record for most international centuries with 18, and powered India to a 137-run win over Hong Kong and a place in the Asia Cup semi-finals.
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