India posted a massive total of 209/5 in their Group A fixture of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup against Netherlands at Headingley. The Indian batting did not just dismantle the Dutch bowling attack but broke a few records with the daunting total on board.
India’s opening duo destroys Netherlands bowling
Netherlands won the toss and asked India to bat first. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma delivered a batting masterclass in reply. The dynamic duo responded with an aggressive Powerplay assault, hammering 59 runs in the first six overs. Shafali once again silenced the critics with a fierce 38-balll half-century studded with ten boundaries. At the other end, Mandhana perfectly complemented Shafali’s brutal attack with her usual elegant timing.
She kept dismantling the Dutch bowling lines with calm and calculation. Thanks to their contrasting styles that Netherlands’ decision to bowl first seemed dubious. This was Shafali Verma’s first-ever half-century in a T20 World Cup, breaking a 17-innings streak without a fifty.Mandhana’s Streak: Smriti registered her second consecutive half-century of the 2026 tournament following her 68 against Pakistan.
They reached 100-run stand in just 10.5 overs and marked their fifth century stand overall in T20 Internationals. It was their first-ever 100-run partnership in a T20 World Cup tournament. Their historic 100-run opening partnership against the Netherlands at Headingley was also the second-highest opening stand for India in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cups and third highest for any wicket for India in the T20 World Cups.
Top 5 partnerships for India in Women’s T20I World Cup
134 runs (4th wicket) – Harmanpreet Kaur & Jemimah Rodrigues vs. New Zealand in 2018
117 runs (1st wicket) – Mithali Raj & Punam Raut vs. West Indies in 2014
115 runs (1st wicket) – Smriti Mandhana & Shafali Verma vs. Netherlands in 2026
107 runs (1st wicket) – Harmanpreet Kaur & Mithali Raj vs. Bangladesh in 2014
98 runs (1st wicket) – Smriti Mandhana & Shafali Verma vs. Sri Lanka in 2024
A record-breaking total set by India women
By setting a commanding foundation, Mandhana and Shafali gave India exactly the start they needed. Following Shafali’s departure, Smriti Mandhana took complete charge of the innings. She smashed 74 off just 47 deliveries, including 11 fours and a six, highlighted by four consecutive boundaries in the 15th over.
Netherlands did try to make a comeback especially in the death overs. They picked up wickets in quick successions but failed to control the run flow for India women. Jemimah Rodrigues contributed a brisk 19 off 13 balls, while wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh gave the finisher’s touch with a quickfire 20* off 8 balls at a strike rate of 250, hitting two crucial sixes. Deepti Sharma ended the innings in style, striking 10 runs off just 2 balls. India’s total of 209/5 broke a couple of records in the process.
200-plus totals for IND-W in T20Is
221/2 vs SL-W, Thiruvananthapuram, 2025
217/4 vs WI-W, Mumbai DYP, 2024
210/5 vs ENG-W, Trent Bridge, 2025
209/5 vs NED-W, Headingley, 2026
201/5 vs UAE-W, Dambulla, 2024
Highest team totals in Women’s T20 World Cup
219/1 – ENG-W SL-W, Edgbaston, 2026
213/5 – ENG-W vs PAK-W, Cape Town, 2023
209/5 – IND-W vs NED-W, Headingley, 2026
195/3 – SA-W vs THA-W, Canberra, 2020
194/5 – IND-W vs NZ-W, Providence, 2018
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