• Home
  • Cricket News
  • Smriti Mandhana Enters History Books Becomes Second Indian Batter After Mithali Raj To

Smriti Mandhana Enters History Books, Becomes Second Indian Batter After Mithali Raj To...

Mandhana smashed her maiden ODI ton at home. (X) Mandhana smashed her maiden ODI ton at home. (X) 

India women's team opener Smriti Mandhana was at her absolute best against South Africa Women as she smashed a majestic hundred, her sixth century in women's ODIs, to power India to a formidable total in the first ODI of the three-match series at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

With that century, she shattered numerous records. Her innings of 117 off 127 balls saw her surpass the 7,000-run mark, making her the second-highest run-getter for India. Mandhana is just behind the legendary Mithali Raj, who has scored more than 10,000 runs for India in international cricket. Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur also features in the list, in third place, with 6,870 runs.

India's third-highest run-getter in ODIs, Mandhana, has amassed 3,359 runs in 83 matches at an impressive average of 43.62. Alongside her six centuries, she has also recorded 26 fifties. Only Mithali Raj has more ODI centuries for India with seven. 

Notably, Mithali recorded her seven centuries in 211 innings, while Harmanpreet Kaur took 112 innings to score five centuries. In contrast, Mandhana reached her six centuries in just 83 innings.

This recent century marked Mandhana's second against South Africa and her first on home soil in ODIs.

India were in a spot of bother at 99/5 while batting first, with five of their top-six batters failing early. Mandhana then steadied the innings with an 81-run partnership with all-rounder Deepti Sharma, who scored 37 runs. Following Deepti's dismissal, Mandhana built a 58-run stand with Pooja Vastrakar, who remained unbeaten on 31, guiding India to a total of 265/8.

Mandhana's brilliant century was the highlight of the innings, helping India post a competitive total of 265 on the board.