In a sensational display of power-hitting, Swarna Akter rewrote the record books with her explosive performance against Papua New Guinea in the Women’s World Cup Qualifier match in Nepal on Tuesday.
Walking to the crease, Swarna took her time to settle, facing the first four deliveries cautiously. But from the fifth ball, she unleashed her trademark power, smashing a six. Over the next eight balls, she struck three more towering sixes, finishing her innings with a staggering strike rate of 264.28, setting a new individual record for Bangladesh in international T20 cricket.
Coming in during the 16th over, Swarna played a destructive 14-ball innings, scoring 37 runs with four sixes and a single boundary before being dismissed on the last ball of the innings. Her aggressive batting laid the foundation for Bangladesh’s formidable total of 168 for 5, giving the team a strong platform against their opponents.
This innings not only marked Swarna’s personal best in terms of six-hitting but also established a new team record for Bangladesh. Previously, the record for most sixes in an innings was three, jointly held by Ayesha Rahman Shuktara, Sanjida Islam, and Nigar Sultana Jyoti. In this match, Swarna’s four sixes, combined with two from Sobhana Mostari, one from Dilara Akter, and one from Juwairiya Ferdous Jayita, brought Bangladesh’s total to eight sixes, surpassing all previous records.
Swarna’s innings also set the record for the highest strike rate in a Bangladesh T20I innings of at least 25 runs, surpassing Fahima Khatun’s 2019 record against Malaysia, where she scored 26 not out off 12 balls at a strike rate of 216.66.
Supporting Swarna’s heroics, Sobhana Mostari contributed 34 runs off 24 balls, while Dilara Akter added 35 runs off 29 balls, helping Bangladesh cross the 150-run mark. Swarna’s innings proved to be the difference, cementing her status as one of Bangladesh’s most destructive young all-rounders.
Bangladesh Sixes in Match vs Papua New Guinea
| Player | Balls Faced | Runs | Sixes | Fours | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swarna Akter | 14 | 37 | 4 | 1 | 264.28 |
| Sobhana Mostari | 24 | 34 | 2 | – | 141.67 |
| Dilara Akter | 29 | 35 | 1 | – | 120.69 |
| Juwairiya Ferdous Jayita | – | – | 1 | – | – |
| Total Sixes | – | – | 8 | – | – |
Bangladesh’s record-breaking display highlighted the growing strength of the team in international women’s cricket and showcased Swarna Akter’s emerging status as a T20 powerhouse.