Smriti Mandhana Makes History with 136 Runs in India vs South Africa ODI
On Wednesday, Smriti Mandhana shone brightly during the 2nd ODI against South Africa in Bengaluru. She etched her name in history by matching Mithali Raj’s record for the most centuries in Indian women’s ODIs, scoring a brilliant 136 runs at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. This was Mandhana’s seventh ODI century, a feat shared with the legendary Raj. Alongside Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur also excelled, contributing a century as India piled up 325/3 in their allotted 50 overs.
Two terrific tons by @mandhana_smriti and @ImHarmanpreet against South Africa today. The performances of @BCCIWomen have been solid in both ODIs so far.
Special congratulations to Smriti for breaching the 7,000 international runs landmark during the 1st ODI.
Keep the momentum… pic.twitter.com/yBJLVVX0QF
— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) June 19, 2024
In addition to her batting prowess, Mandhana impressed with the ball, too. She took her first international wicket by dismissing Aune Luus, who caught behind. Her bowling action even drew comparisons to Virat Kohli on social media. ‘I’m really happy with my performance today. It’s a great feeling to contribute to the team’s victory in multiple ways,’ said Mandhana after the match.
The partnership between Mandhana and Kaur was not just a display of individual brilliance, but a testament to the team’s unity and shared goal. Their combined efforts helped India achieve their highest-ever ODI total at home, surpassing their previous record of 298/2 set in 2004. Despite a cautious start after losing the toss and facing swinging deliveries, the opening duo of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana steadied India’s innings. Verma departed after a solid 20, followed by Dayalan Hemalatha, who managed 24 runs before falling to Nonkululeko Mlaba.
𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗢𝗳 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀! 👏 🤝
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/j8UQuA5BhS#TeamIndia | #SpiritOfCricket | #INDvSA | @ImHarmanpreet | @LauraWolvaardt | @ProteasWomenCSA | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/5O2e1bJD7x
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) June 19, 2024
India was 100/2 at the 23-over mark when Harmanpreet Kaur joined forces with Mandhana, and their formidable partnership posed a significant challenge for South Africa. The visitors grappled with sloppy fielding and occasional poor bowling, which led to the concession of easy runs. However, it’s important to acknowledge the resilience of the South African team in the face of India’s outstanding batting display.
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India concluded their innings at 325/3, with the captain unbeaten on 103 while Mandhana departed after a stellar 136, embellished with 18 boundaries and two sixes, her highest individual score in ODIs. This was a significant milestone for Mandhana, who has been a consistent performer for the team and has now set a new personal best in ODIs.
