Commonwealth Games 2022: Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues take India to 164/5 against England in cricket semis

Smriti Mandhana hit the fastest women's T20I half-century off just 23 balls. Her innings was studded with three maximums and eight boundaries.

India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues helped India post 164 for the loss of five wickets in the first semifinal against hosts England at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday.

Mandhana hit the fastest women's T20I off just 23 balls after India opted to bat. The left-hander single-handedly gave India a flying start, taking the Women in Blue to 64 runs for no loss in powerplay.

Soon after the powerplay, England turned the tables when captain Nat Sciver brought in Freya Kemp. Shafali Verma, who was enjoying Mandhana's innings from the other end, departed for 15 after she was taken by a charged-up Katherine Brunt at mid-off in the eighth over.

Sciver got the much-needed breakthrough for England as she dismissed Mandhana (61 off 32), who scooped to short fine leg. Mandhana's innings was studded with three maximums and eight boundaries. With two new batters in the middle, India struggled to build on the dream start.

England thought they had Harmanpreet Kaur leg-before but the Indian captain immediately took a review. The replays showed there was a thin line, which forced the on-field umpire to change the decision. Harmanpreet soon fell after playing a run-a-ball 20. Jemimah Rodrigues (44*) and Deepti Sharma (20) dragged India towards the end to set a target of 165 for hosts England.