Smriti Mandhana set a new record and established a new personal best of 74 runs in the victory over the Netherlands by 95 runs during the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup during her thirteenth T20I match on Wednesday afternoon. Mandhana also set the all-time record for individual scores of players scoring 74 runs in T20I format. The high score of 209 by India was eclipsed by the low score of 114 runs from the Netherlands through 17.3 overs bowled to establish the record total of 0.17 for a team being bowled out.
Mandhana’s record-setting performance came from her exceptional 74 run innings, which included 11 fours and a six, against the Netherlands and brought her to more than 600 career boundaries in T20I match history, and made her the first player (Male or Female) in the history of T20, to have accomplished that feat. The mark of record also speaks to the number of years and relentless commitment to achieving these successful T20I batting averages.
The opposition found it even more difficult as a result of how India began their innings. Mandhana and Shafali Verma put together an opening partnership of 115 runs, allowing India to take off; this kind of start changes the way you look at the geometry of a T20 innings. The powerplay yielded 59 runs; by the time Verma departed with 55 runs from 38 balls, the Netherlands were already feeling the pressure of being so far behind.
Mandhana didn’t just score runs; she dominated! Her second consecutive half-century in the tournament- her previous 68 against Pakistan- demonstrated a batter who is fully in control of timing, angles and tempo. The ICC noted that India’s total has become the highest Women’s T20 World Cup total to date, with late-innings acceleration ensuring that the total was reflective of the dominance India had from the first over.
Netherlands leg spinner Caroline De Lange discovered a heartbeat – returning 2 for 32 at an important time for her side by slowing down a fast-scoring Indian side – but they were already too far down, so much so that India added 32 runs in the last two overs alone with help from Richa Ghosh, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma providing finishes that were brutally efficient.
The Indian batting set the tone, but the bowling sealed the deal. Left-arm spinner Sree Charani produced 4 wickets for 19 runs, including 3 wickets in one over, and Shafali Verma produced a fantastic all-round performance by taking 3 wickets after scoring 50 runs as well.
Although the Netherlands had some stout resistance from their captain Babette de Leede and opening bat Heather Siegers, they ended up being squeezed out of the run chase, collapsing from 96 for 4 to be all out for 114.
The scale of India’s win goes beyond just the number of runs they scored; it’s evidence of a team that’s capable of winning across multiple layers: a record breaking opening partnership, a solid middle order and a bowling attack that can win matches without a lot of fuss. Their victory also marked India’s second consecutive win in Group A (after beating Pakistan) and strengthens their position in the tournament.
For Mandhana, however, this match was about even more than just winning; it was a rare type of innings. She played an innings that was not only beautiful but also momentous. In a game that is usually characterized by extreme ups and downs, she brought a sense of permanence through her composure, elegance and a score that nobody has reached before at this level of cricket. This type of innings doesn’t just win you a match, it changes how people talk about the game.
