In the 2nd ODI game of the ongoing series between India women”s team and South Africa”s, Smriti Mandana India”s left-handed opening aggressive batter has scored a swashbuckling 135 of just 129 balls.
South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first with an aim to level the series. The opening duo of India Women Smriti and Punam Raut started off cautiously once again and added 56 runs for the first wicket. Mandhana looked confident in her strides as she was coming off a big score in the first game of the series. She just continued in the same vein even after her partner was dismissed in the 13th over.
Indian team went on to beat South Africa women in the first ODI by 88 runs to take the lead in the series 1-0. And the second ODI is currently going on but the innings from Smriti has already taken away the limelight.
Smriti Mandhana built her innings perfectly after the end of the powerplay and rotated the strike even as her skipper Mithali Raj went a rare failure. She was then joined by Harmanpreet Kaur who played a perfect supporting role to her. Smriti, meanwhile, also notched up her second consecutive half-century of the series and looked hungry for more runs. There were no shortcomings in her technique and lashed on the loose deliveries offered by the opposition bowlers.
Eventually, she brought up the third century of her ODI career in the 40th over by scoring a couple of runs off Marizane Kapp’s bowling. Also, she became the only Woman Cricketer in the world to score centuries in Australia, England, and South Africa. She opened up her arms after reaching the landmark and began smashing the ball all over the park. Smriti even scored 28 runs off Ayabonga Khaka in which she hammered the bowler for four boundaries and a six.
She was dismissed in the 44th over by Raisibe Ntozakhe in the end for a stellar knock of 135 runs off just 129 deliveries with as many as 14 fours and a solitary six. India Women pushed on a with her century, posted a hefty total of 302 runs for the loss of three wickets as Kaur and Veda Krishnamurthy piled on the pain for Southafrica.
Twitter really appreciated this effort from Smriti and it came from all corners of the cricketing world audiences as well as experts. It”s a pity that the game isn”t televised anywhere. But this knock from Smriti Mandhana will forever remain a memorable one.
Congratulations to @mandhana_smriti, who became the first Indian Women's batter to score an ODI hundred against South Africa Women.
Prior to today's ODI, the Indian Women's team had played against the South African Women's team in 16 ODIs! #SAvIND #SAWvINDW @BCCIWomen
— Arun Gopalakrishnan (@statanalyst) February 7, 2018
SMRITI MANDHANA:
A hundred in Australia ✅
A hundred in England ✅
A hundred in South Africa ✅She is now the first Indian Women to score hundreds in three away countries. #SAWvINDW
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) February 7, 2018
302/3 in 50 overs for Indian Women….Smriti Mandhana's ton and Harmanpreet Kaur's 50. Over to Jhulan and co. to defend it and make it 2-0. #SAvIND
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 7, 2018
Meanwhile, in the 2nd ODI at Kimberley, India women have made 302/3 in their 50 overs against South Africa Women
Smriti Mandhana 135 in 129b
Harmanpreet Kaur 55* in 69b
Veda Krishnamurthy 51* in 33b#SAvInd— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) February 7, 2018
It’s Hundred For @mandhana_smriti 103* off 117 Balls With 9 Fours against SA….. Fantastic Innings 👏👏 #SAWvINDW
— Rajesh Khilare (@Cricrajeshpk) February 7, 2018
Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Veda Krishnamurthy are putting on a show against South Africa. What does the BCCI give us by way of coverage? Zip. If this was India men playing Timbuctoo, we'd have had hype and wall to wall coverage and.. oh well.
— Prem Panicker (@prempanicker) February 7, 2018
Well Played Smriti Mandhana 👏👏 #SAWvINDW pic.twitter.com/ptFa1YBYVK
— CricFit (@CricFit) February 7, 2018
Life is tough for Indian women cricket fans. With no television coverage of the ongoing #INDWvSAW ODI series available, one has to constantly keep checking Twitter and cricket websites for updates. Really wanted to see @mandhana_smriti bat
— Shalini Gupta (@shalini8282) February 7, 2018
Smriti just wants to keep it simple. Be consistent. 84 followed by 💯 today. Well played @mandhana_smriti Keep it going 💪🏼 @BCCIWomen
— Mayanti Langer Binny (@MayantiLanger_B) February 7, 2018
What a match this is turning out to be!! Stellar performance by @mandhana_smriti once again. A big congratulations to #JhulanGoswami on her 200th ODI wicket. #Jhulan200 #SAWvINDW pic.twitter.com/Qz8potomrj
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 7, 2018
2nd ODI: @mandhana_smriti scores first century of the ODI series #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/HIALaFArvk
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) February 7, 2018
.@mandhana_smriti's hundred and fifties from @ImHarmanpreet and @vedakmurthy08 propel the Indian women to a commendable total of 302/3 from their 50 overs. Over to the bowlers now.#SAvIND
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) February 7, 2018
100 UP for Smriti Mandhana. It comes off 116 (9x4s). IND wmn 194/2 (39.5 ovs). #SAvIND #ProteasWomen pic.twitter.com/6fj4RnV726
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) February 7, 2018
🏏 #SAvIND WOMEN 2nd ODI 🏏
Special shout out to @mandhana_smriti for scoring 1⃣3⃣5⃣ runs to set the foundation of #TeamIndia's 🇮🇳 total.
💥 WOMEN'S MASTER BLASTER💥#HallaBol #Cricket
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) February 7, 2018
Take a bow Smriti Mandhana 135(129) 14×4 1×6
India women make 302/3 in their 50 overs in the 2nd ODI#SAWvINDW
— Natalie Germanos 🏏 (@NatalieGermanos) February 7, 2018
14 4s and a 6! Dominating 135 of 129 by @mandhana_smriti. What a ton! Take a bow! #SAWvINDW pic.twitter.com/8bXeA2mfmv
— 100MB (@100MasterBlastr) February 7, 2018
Congratulations Jhulan Goswami 👏🇮🇳 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/CyUT1QUNTZ
— CricFit (@CricFit) February 7, 2018
