Fatima Sana Creates History with Fastest Fifty Ever in Women's T20 Internationals

Fatima Sana has set a new record for the fastest half-century in Women's T20 International cricket after an explosive innings in Pakistan's third T20I against Zimbabwe in Karachi.

 

The Pakistan skipper reached her fifty in just 15 balls, surpassing the previous international record held by Sophie Devine, Phoebe Litchfield and Richa Ghosh who had all previously registered half-centuries off 18 balls. Sana's rapid-fire innings also equals the fastest half-century recorded in women's T20 cricket, which was previously achieved in the domestic circuit by Marie Kelly and Laura Harris.

 

Fastest Fifty in Women's T20Is

 

Player	Balls	Match	Venue	Date
Fatima Sana	15	Pakistan Women vs Zimbabwe Women	Karachi	May 15, 2026
Sophie Devine	18	New Zealand Women vs India Women	Bengaluru	July 11, 2015
Phoebe Litchfield	18	Australia Women vs West Indies Women	Sydney	October 2, 2023
Richa Ghosh	18	India Women vs West Indies Women	DY Patil Stadium	December 19, 2024
Nida Dar	20	South Africa Women vs Pakistan Women	Benoni	May 22, 2019

 

Pakistan opted to bat first in the final game of the series, already boasting a commanding score on the board when Fatima Sana walked out to bat in the 17th over. The Pakistan captain hit the ground running and immediately took to the Zimbabwe bowlers from the very first ball.

 

Sana tore into the Zimbabwe bowling, hitting a boundary before cracking consecutive fours against Kudzai Chigora. The Pakistan captain continued her onslaught in the next over, taking a boundary, a single and two huge sixes against Nomvelo Sibanda, and continued to dominate the rest of the final over.

 

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Fatima Sana Tears Apart Zimbabwe Bowling

 

Sana's innings, which included 10 fours and two sixes at a strike rate of over 300, culminated with a couple on the second ball of the final over, leaving her unbeaten on a scintillating 62 runs from just 19 deliveries. At the other end, Saira Jabeen also brought up a half-century as Pakistan finished their innings on a remarkable 223/4, the second-highest total in Women's T20 International history.

 

Remarkable Year Continues For Pakistan Captain

 

This innings adds another glittering chapter to Fatima Sana's remarkable 2026, where she has established herself as one of Pakistan's most formidable T20I batters. The all-rounder currently tops the scoring chart for Pakistan in Women's T20Is this year with 229 runs from just five innings and an extraordinary strike rate in excess of 200.

 

Earlier in 2026, Sana recorded her career-best T20I score of 90 off 41 balls against South Africa women's national cricket team. Prior to this iconic knock, the fastest T20I fifty by a Pakistan women's player belonged to Nida Dar, who achieved the milestone off 20 deliveries against Australia in 2019.