Team India opener Smriti Mandhana has become first Indian woman batter to score ten centuries in international cricket after her ton against New Zealand in third ODI in Ahmedabad.
India women’s cricket team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana ended her lean run with a match-winning century in the series-decider ODI clash against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. Mandhana scored 100 off 122 balls to set up India’s six-wicket win in the third ODI with more than five overs to spare to guide Team India to a 2-1 win in the three-match series against the new T20 World Cup champions.
It was Mandhana’s eighth century in ODI cricket in just 88 matches. With this ton, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper zoomed past former India captain Mithali Raj to become the Indian batter with most centuries in women’s ODI cricket.
Mithali Raj had scored 7 centuries in 232 ODI matches while scoring 7,805 runs while current skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has six tons in 135 ODI games with 3,648 runs. Mandhana now has 3,690 runs in 88 ODIs at an average of 45 with 8 centuries and 27 fifties and a strike-rate of 84.92.
That HUNDRED Feeling 💯🤗
Live – https://t.co/pSVaIW4Deg#INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @mandhana_smriti pic.twitter.com/61zSBcOQ2H
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) October 29, 2024
Punam Raut had scored 3 centuries for India in 73 matches while Thirush Kamini had 2 tons in 39 ODI matches. Out of her eight centuries, three have come against South Africa while two each have been scored against West Indies and New Zealand.
Mandhana also became the first Indian woman to score three ODI centuries while batting second. With two centuries in Test format, Mandhana also achieved the feat of being the first Indian woman to score 10 international centuries.
“I am really pleased to get the series win. As I said in the first game, it has been a tough one and a half months for this team. The first two games didn’t go my way so really happy I could get a score today,” Mandhana said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
“It was more about controlling my shots, you don’t bat the same way everyday. You’re in the best frame some days and you’re not other days. Had to be little hard on myself early on and wait for the first 10 overs to go before taking the game on. For me what works is the harder way. Need to do it for the team first. Getting out early means I’ve let the team down and that thought doesn’t let me sleep well. As a cricketer you are going to get highs and lows, you need to keep the routine the same,” she added.