Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has set a new record for the fastest half-century in women’s T20Is, reaching the milestone in only 15 balls against Zimbabwe in the third T20I in Karachi. Her innings surpassed the previous 18-ball record jointly held by Sophie Devine, Phoebe Litchfield and Richa Ghosh.
Sana’s half-century is also the joint-fastest in women’s T20 cricket. Marie Kelly had achieved the same mark for Warwickshire against Gloucestershire in 2022, while Laura Harris matched it for Otago against Canterbury in the Super Smash in 2025. Before Sana’s innings, Nida Dar held Pakistan’s record for the quickest women’s T20I fifty, having reached the mark in 20 balls against South Africa in 2019.
The record-breaking knock came after Pakistan chose to bat first in the final T20I. Sana walked in with the score at 152 for 4 in 16.2 overs and immediately made an impact. She struck Michelle Mavunga for four off her first delivery, took a single from the next ball, and then attacked Kudzai Chigora with four consecutive boundaries.
She followed that with an attack on Nomvelo Sibanda in the 19th over, hitting 4, 4, 6, 6 and 4 in a 24-run over. That sequence moved Sana to 48 from 14 balls with one over remaining, while Saira Jabeen had reached 49 off 31 at the other end.
Sana completed the historic fifty with two runs off Zimunu from the second ball of the final over. She then added two more fours before finishing unbeaten on 62 from just 19 deliveries. Jabeen also remained not out, making 50 off 32 balls, as Pakistan reached 223 for 4.
More Read
It was Pakistan’s second-highest total in women’s T20Is, behind the 237 they had scored in the opening match of the same series. Sana’s innings included 10 fours and two sixes.
Zimbabwe struggled badly in reply and were bowled out for 90. Sadia Iqbal and Nashra Sandhu shared five wickets between them, while Sana also contributed with the ball, finishing with figures of 1 for 28 from 2.1 overs.
Sana has been Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in T20Is this year, with 229 runs from five innings at a strike rate of 206.30. Among women’s T20I batters in 2026 who have faced more than 10 balls, that strike rate is the best. Her career-best T20I score of 90 off 41 balls also came this year, against South Africa in the first match of the three-game series in February.
