Smriti Mandhana becomes most successful Indian opener

India women’s team opener Smriti Mandhana has become the most successful opening batter for the team. She has bow accumulated 2046 runs in 52 ODIs surpassing Jaya Sharma’s tally of 2039 in 72 games. 

Mandhana has notched up 4 tons and 17 fifties and has scored runs at an average of over 43 in the 50-over format. 

Earlier, Mandhana’s 80* and Puma Raut’s 62* helped Indian women’s team script a 9-wicket win against South Africa in the second ODI in Lucknow to level the five-match series. 

The left-handed opener just took 64 balls to score 80 runs during the chase of 158 runs and her knock included 10 boundaries and three maximums. Mandhana has scored four half-centuries in her last five ODIs and has 50+ runs in every ODI chase beginning from 2018. Since 2018, the left-hander has scored 1150 runs in 21 matches for India at an average of 67.6. 

India bowled out South Africa for 157 in 41 overs after Jhulan Goswami scalped four wickets while Gayakwad bagged a three-wicket haul. Lara Goodall top-scored with 49 for South Africa. 

The two teams will now play the next ODI on Friday at the same venue. The ODI series will be followed by a three-match T20I series. 




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