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Smriti Mandhana Smashes Maiden T20I Century; Delivers Captain's Knock vs ENG

Aashay Chopade

Smriti Mandhana during her knock vs ENG (Source: @WomensCricZone/X.com)Smriti Mandhana during her knock vs ENG (Source: @WomensCricZone/X.com)

Smriti Mandhana is leading India in the first T20I against England and has played a true captain's knock, scoring her maiden century at the international level in the shortest format. She took just 51 balls to reach the landmark and has taken India to a strong total.

The left-handed batter is just the second Indian women cricketer after Harmanpreet Kaur to score a ton in T20Is. She has 30 half-centuries to her name and is now the only Indian Women cricketer to score a century in all three formats.

Mandhana And Shafali's Record Stand Takes India Off To A Flier

Smriti walked out to bat with great intent after losing the toss. Her partner, Shafali Verma, struggled to hit boundaries regularly, but Smriti was in sublime touch and kept finding boundaries at regular intervals. Thus, India got off to a fantastic start in the Powerplay. 

The opening duo stitched together a stand of 71 runs, their 21st fifty-plus stand in women's T20Is. It has taken them over the pair of Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney and they now have most 50-plus stands in Women's T20Is.

List Of Most 50+ stands In Women’s T20Is

  • 21* - Smriti Mandhana & Shafali Verma (India)
  • 20 - Alyssa Healy & Beth Mooney (Australia)
  • 18 - Suzie Bates & Sophie Devine (New Zealand)
  • 14 - Kavisha Egodage & Esha Oza (UAE)
  • 13 - Esha Oza & Theertha Satish (UAE)

After the wicket of Shafali, Smriti Mandhana found good support from Harleen Deol, and together, they took India close to 200. However, India lost their way a bit in the final few overs, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Smriti Mandhana departed in the final over at a score of 112, and her knock ensured that India crossed the psychological 200-run mark. 

The knock from the Indian number 18 would go down as one of the finest in the shortest format and in the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur, she has led from the front in style.