Pakistan captain Fatima Sana set a new record for the fastest half-century in women’s T20Is, reaching the landmark in just 15 balls against Zimbabwe in the third T20I in Karachi. The achievement surpassed the previous record of 18-ball fifties held by Sophie Devine, Phoebe Litchfield and Richa Ghosh.
Sana’s effort also equals the fastest fifty recorded in women’s T20 cricket overall, matching Marie Kelly’s feat for Warwickshire against Gloucestershire in 2022 and Laura Harris’ innings for Otago against Canterbury in the 2025 Super Smash. The previous fastest fifty for Pakistan had been scored by Nida Dar, who reached the milestone in 20 balls against South Africa in 2019.
Pakistan opted to bat first in the final match, with Sana arriving at the crease at 152 for 4 in 16.2 overs. She began with a boundary off her first delivery from Michelle Mavunga and, after taking a single, accelerated rapidly against Kudzai Chigora with four consecutive fours.
Her assault continued in the 19th over, where she struck Nomvelo Sibanda for a sequence of 4, 4, 6, 6 and 4, collecting 24 runs in the over to move to 48 off 14 balls. At the other end, Saira Jabeen progressed to 49 off 31 deliveries.
Sana reached her record-breaking fifty with two runs off Zimunu in the final over and finished strongly with two additional boundaries. She remained unbeaten on 62 from just 19 balls, while Jabeen completed an unbeaten 50 off 32. Pakistan closed their innings at 223 for 4, their second-highest total in the format after the 237 scored earlier in the series. Sana’s innings included 10 fours and two sixes.
Zimbabwe’s chase never gathered momentum, as they were bowled out for 90. Sadia Iqbal and Nashra Sandhu shared five wickets between them, while Sana contributed with the ball, returning figures of 1 for 28 in 2.1 overs.
Sana is now Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in women’s T20Is this year, accumulating 229 runs from five innings at a strike rate of 206.30, the highest among players who have faced more than 10 balls in 2026.
