Smriti Mandhana Equals Mithali Raj's Record for Most Hundreds in Women ODIs for India

Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana smashed a second consecutive hundred as the Indian women’s team locked horns with South Africa in the second ODI on Wednesday in Bengaluru. While her belligerent knock lifted the hosts to a formidable 325 for 3 in 50, Mandhana also equalled the 6-year-old record of Mithali Raj in women’s ODIs.

It was Mandhana’s 7^th hundred in the 50-over format with which she equalled the tally of former skipper Raj, the highest scorer in women’s ODIs. The former Indian captain scored his last and 7^th ODI hundred against Sri Lanka in September 2018. Mithali, who retired with 7805 runs in WODIs, also scored 64 fifties during 23 years of her cricketing journey.

Meanwhile, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur also notched up a century against South Africa on Wednesday. She scored an unbeaten 103 off 88 deliveries, with the help of 3 sixes and 9 boundaries. It was his 6^th ton in in the fifty-over format and is just one hundred behind his teammate and former captain.

Most hundreds in for India in women ODIs

India set South Africa 326 target                   

South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt’s decision to have a bowl seemed vindicated as new-ball bowlers, Ayabonga Khaka and Masabata Klaas, found appreciable bounce and movement under overcast skies.

Mandhana’s 136 and Harmanpreet’s unbeaten 103 milked 171 runs for the third wicket, and ran roughshod over the Proteas bowlers.

A period of consolidation followed as Mandhana and Dayalan Hemalatha added 62 runs for the second wicket in which the latter was the more dominant presence. Hemalatha (24) looked good for more but her attempt to slog-sweep Klaas ended in the hands of Anneke Bosch. However, the arrival of skipper Harmanpreet changed the complexion of the innings as the rate of India, which was hovering around 4 till then, first soared past five and then six runs an over.

The SA bowlers tried to curtail the free-flowing Smriti, bowling wide off her off-stump. While the strategy was worth giving a go, they erred in line so much as the India vice-captain garnered a clutch of boundaries without much effort.

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