Rawat Smashes Fastest Fifty in Women's T20 History With 14-Ball Blitz

Prema Rawat has written her name into the record books by smashing the fastest fifty ever recorded in women's T20 cricket. The 24-year-old leg-spinner reached her half-century in just 14 balls for Uttarakhand against Hyderabad in the Senior Women's T20 Trophy at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Gahunje, Pune, breaking the previous joint record of 15 balls held by Marie Kelly, Laura Harris and Fatima Sana. Rawat came to the crease at number four with only 17 deliveries left in the innings, yet still found time to strike six fours and four sixes in a breathtaking late assault that lifted her side to a commanding total. Rawat was not finished there. After her batting heroics, she returned with the ball to take two wickets for just 12 runs from her four overs, as Uttarakhand restricted Hyderabad to 98 for eight and sealed an 89-run victory. Skipper Raghvi Bist had earlier anchored the innings with an unbeaten 72 from 50 balls, and Uttarakhand finished on 187 for two. Rawat, who has played seven T20 internationals for India and taken seven wickets at an average of 18.85, announced herself on the domestic stage in the most spectacular fashion possible, and her record-breaking knock is already being shared widely as one of the great late-innings cameos in the women's game.