Smriti Mandhana record WBBL century in vain as Harmanpreet Kaur’s all-round show overpowers

Indian women’s cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana became the first Indian woman to hits a century in the history of the Women’s Big Bash League, after she cover drove Holly Ferling for a double on the last ball of the 18th over of the Sydney Thunder Women’s innings, chasing 176 for victory in the Women’s Big Bash League. 

The left-hander scored unbeaten 114 off just 64 deliveries but fail to win the much-required game for her team as the Thunder fell four runs short of the table-toppers Melbourne Renegades Women’s total of 175. India Women’s T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur was given the responsibility of defending 13 runs off the last over and she did that in style as neither Mandhana nor her partner Tahlia Wilson was able to clear the ropes even once in the last over. 

Mandhana’s 114 is now the highest individual score by any player in the history of the WBBL, she overtook Australian wicketkeeper batter Alyssa Healy who had scored 112* playing for Sydney Sixers Women against Adelaide Strikers Women in 2018. 

Earlier in the day, Renegades, riding on Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 81 off just 55 balls, a knock in which she hit 11 fours and two sixes, got up to 175 in their 20 overs. Kaur then came back to pick the first wicket in the Thunder innings as well and bowled a superb spell, giving away just 27 runs in her quota of four overs even as she bowled the last over. 

It was courtesy of this brilliant all-around showing from Kaur that Renegades have now occupied the top of the table place in the WBBL 2021 Points Table. They now have eight wins from 12 games and java moved above Perth Scorchers Women who have seven wins from the same number of games.