Karachi, May 16,2026: Fatima Sana produced a record-breaking batting display on Saturday, scoring the fastest half-century in women’s T20 internationals off just 15 balls against Zimbabwe in the third T20I in Karachi.
The Pakistan captain surpassed the previous record of 18-ball fifties held jointly by Sophie Devine, Phoebe Litchfield and Richa Ghosh.
Her explosive knock also placed her among the joint-fastest half-centuries in all women’s T20 cricket, matching records held by Marie Kelly and Laura Harris.
Batting first after being put into the field, Pakistan were 152/4 in the 17th over when Sana walked in and immediately changed the momentum of the innings.
She began with a boundary off her first ball and unleashed a flurry of strokes, including four consecutive fours off Kudzai Chigora and a brutal assault in the 19th over against Nomvelo Sibanda that yielded 24 runs.
Sana reached her fifty in the final over with a quick double and finished unbeaten on a blistering 62 off just 19 deliveries, striking 10 fours and two sixes. At the other end, Saira Jabeen also impressed with an unbeaten 50 off 32 balls.
Pakistan posted 223/4, their second-highest total in women’s T20 internationals, before bowling out Zimbabwe for 90 in reply.
Left-arm spinners Sadia Iqbal and Nashra Sundhu led the bowling effort, sharing five wickets between them as Pakistan sealed a dominant win.
Sana’s knock continues her exceptional form in 2026, where she has emerged as Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in T20Is with 229 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 206.30. Her previous best of 90 off 41 balls came earlier this year against South Africa.
