Sweden Women produced a remarkable performance against Bulgaria Women in the ECA Women’s European Cup 2026, securing a 10-wicket victory thanks to an extraordinary innings from Anya Vaidya.
The Swedish opener smashed an unbeaten 75 from just 25 deliveries, reaching her half-century in only 16 balls to register the second-fastest fifty in women’s T20I cricket.
Vaidya struck 13 fours and two sixes, maintaining an exceptional strike rate of 300.00 as Sweden chased down Bulgaria’s target of 99 in just 5.5 overs.
The victory came with 85 balls remaining, highlighting Sweden’s dominance with both bat and ball.
Sweden Women vs Bulgaria Women: Match Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ECA Women’s European Cup 2026 |
| Match | Sweden Women vs Bulgaria Women |
| Bulgaria Women | 98/9 (20 overs) |
| Sweden Women | 99/0 (5.5 overs) |
| Result | Sweden won by 10 wickets |
| Balls remaining | 85 |
| Top scorer | Anya Vaidya – 75* (25) |
| Fastest fifty in match | Anya Vaidya – 16 balls |
| Best bowling figures | Shreya Hariharan – 2/16 |
Anya Vaidya Reaches Fifty in Just 16 Balls
Vaidya was the standout performer in Sweden’s comfortable victory, delivering one of the fastest half-centuries recorded in women’s T20 internationals.
The right-handed batter attacked Bulgaria’s bowling from the beginning of the chase, finding boundaries regularly and preventing the opposition from building pressure.
She required only 16 deliveries to complete her half-century, putting Sweden firmly in control of the match.
Vaidya continued her aggressive approach after reaching fifty and eventually finished unbeaten on 75 from 25 balls.
Her innings included 13 boundaries and two sixes, with 64 of her 75 runs coming from fours and sixes.
The remarkable strike rate of 300.00 reflected the speed at which she dismantled Bulgaria’s bowling attack.
Vaidya Records Second-Fastest Fifty in Women’s T20I Cricket
The 16-ball half-century placed Vaidya among the fastest scorers in women’s T20 international history.
According to the tournament report, her innings was the second-fastest fifty in the format.
The record for the fastest women’s T20I half-century belongs to Pakistan’s Fatima Sana, who reached fifty from 15 deliveries against Zimbabwe in May 2026.
Vaidya fell just one delivery short of matching that achievement.
Fastest Women’s T20I Fifties Highlighted in the Report
| Player | Team | Balls | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fatima Sana | Pakistan | 15 | Zimbabwe | 2026 |
| Anya Vaidya | Sweden | 16 | Bulgaria | 2026 |
The milestone was a significant individual achievement for Vaidya and brought attention to Sweden’s performance in the European competition.
Bulgaria Women Restricted to 98/9
Earlier in the match, Bulgaria struggled to establish momentum after batting first.
Sweden’s bowlers maintained consistent pressure throughout the 20 overs, preventing Bulgaria from building substantial partnerships.
Tanaya Dissanayake was Bulgaria’s leading run-scorer with 35 from 38 deliveries.
Gabriela Ilarionova provided support with 20 off 22 balls, while Simona Yordanova remained unbeaten on 11.
However, Bulgaria found it difficult to accelerate during the later stages of the innings.
They eventually finished on 98/9, leaving Sweden with a target of 99.
Bulgaria Women’s Leading Batters
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Tanaya Dissanayake | 35 | 38 |
| Gabriela Ilarionova | 20 | 22 |
| Simona Yordanova | 11* | — |
The absence of a substantial partnership limited Bulgaria’s chances of posting a competitive total.
Shreya Hariharan Leads Sweden’s Bowling Attack
Sweden’s victory was built on an effective bowling performance before Vaidya’s explosive innings.
Shreya Hariharan delivered the most productive spell, claiming two wickets for 16 runs from four overs.
Malyun Yusuf was particularly economical, conceding only 10 runs from her four overs while taking one wicket.
Hareer Chamto, Sasi Jampa and Anjali Natarajan also contributed with one wicket each.
Sweden Women’s Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Wickets | Runs conceded |
|---|---|---|
| Shreya Hariharan | 2 | 16 |
| Malyun Yusuf | 1 | 10 |
| Hareer Chamto | 1 | — |
| Sasi Jampa | 1 | — |
| Anjali Natarajan | 1 | — |
The combined effort ensured Bulgaria remained below 100 despite using their full allocation of overs.
Sweden Chase 99 in Just 5.5 Overs
Sweden’s response was immediate and aggressive.
Vaidya opened the innings alongside Adan Gul, and the pair dominated the chase without losing a wicket.
While Vaidya attacked the bowling, Gul played a supporting role and finished unbeaten on nine from 11 deliveries.
Their unbeaten opening partnership took Sweden to 99/0 in just 5.5 overs.
The Swedish batters completed the chase with 85 balls remaining, giving Bulgaria no opportunity to recover.
Vaidya’s ability to score boundaries consistently ensured the required run rate was never a concern.
The result secured a comprehensive 10-wicket victory for Sweden.
A Memorable Performance for Sweden Women
Sweden’s win combined disciplined bowling with exceptional batting.
The bowlers restricted Bulgaria to 98/9, with Hariharan and Yusuf playing particularly important roles.
Vaidya then transformed what could have been a routine chase into a historic individual performance.
Her 16-ball fifty and unbeaten 75 from 25 deliveries were the defining moments of the match.
The innings demonstrated the impact aggressive opening batting can have in T20 cricket, particularly when chasing a modest target.
For Sweden, the victory represented a commanding team performance in the ECA Women’s European Cup 2026.
For Vaidya, it was a memorable achievement that placed her among the fastest half-century makers in women’s T20I cricket.
