Smriti Mandhana scored 80, and Shafali Verma made 79 in a record-shattering opening partnership, powering the Indian women's cricket team to their highest-ever T20I total of 221/2 against Sri Lanka. 

This commanding performance in the fourth T20I showcased a dominant batting display that rewrote the record books.

A Record-Breaking Opening Foundation

The foundation of the historic total was built by a spectacular 162-run opening stand between Mandhan and Verma in just 15.2 overs. This partnership is now the highest for any wicket for India in women's T20Is, surpassing their previous best of 143. 

It also marked the fourth-century partnership between the duo, underlining their status as one of the world's most formidable opening pairs. Shafali Verma continued her explosive form in the series. notching her third successive half-century.

Milestones and Late Fireworks

During her knock, Smriti Mandhana scored 80 and achieved a monumental personal milestone, becoming only the fourth batter in women's cricket history to cross 10,000 international runs across all formats. 

The innings was turbocharged at the death by Richa Ghosh, who blazed an unbeaten 40 off just 16 balls, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (16 in 9 balls) ensured India surged past the 220 mark.

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Series Context and Dominance

After being asked to bat first for the first time in the series, India's batters seized the opportunity emphatically. 

This record total puts India in a commanding position in the five-match series and sends a strong message about the depth and power of their batting lineup ahead of major global tournaments.

Source Information:

This match report is based on the detailed coverage from The Times of India.

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Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma power India women to record T20I total vs Sri Lanka