Prema Rawat smashed the fastest half-century in women’s T20 cricket on Monday, November 2, reaching an unbeaten 50 off just 14 balls for Uttarakhand against Hyderabad in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy.
Rawat’s record matters because it moved the benchmark for the fastest fifty in the women’s T20 format by a full delivery, and it came from a 24-year-old leg-spin bowling all-rounder better known for her bowling than her batting.
Rawat achieved the feat at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, reaching the landmark in the 12th over of Uttarakhand’s innings with a sequence that included a four off the fifth ball and a six off the sixth.
Uttarakhand posted 187 for 5 in 20 overs, with Rawat remaining unbeaten on 56 off 17 balls, including 4 fours and 4 sixes. She then took 2 wickets for 24 runs with the ball as Hyderabad were restricted to 130 for 8.
Rawat passed the previous record of 15 balls, held jointly by New Zealand’s Sophie Devine and Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield.
Sana Mir still holds the record for the fastest fifty in women’s T20 Internationals, reaching the landmark in 23 balls for Pakistan against South Africa in 2019.
Rawat is primarily known as a leg-spin bowler who has represented Uttarakhand in domestic cricket, and this innings showed her hitting ability against a strong Hyderabad attack.
Rawat plays domestic cricket for Uttarakhand and has also featured in the Women’s Premier League, where she was part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad.
What is confirmed is that Rawat’s 14-ball fifty is now the fastest in women’s T20 cricket, a record that will stand until another batter reaches the landmark in fewer deliveries.
