[Watch] Smriti Mandhana 'Slaps' Sutherland For A Huge Six In IND vs AUS T20I

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma in the first T20I against AUS-W (BCCI)

India’s firebrand opener Smriti Mandhana blazed her way to a rollicking start for her side with partner Shafali Verma against Australia Women in the first T20I of their three-match series in Navi Mumbai.  

Chasing 142 for a win, the cricketer started off India’s run-scoring charge with a boisterous thwack off Annabel Sutherland in just the third over of the innings.

Mandhana signals early intentions with a huge six

Smriti Mandhana sent Australian fast bowler Annabel Sutherland soaring over square region for a huge six with an elegant pick-up pull off the latter’s opening over of the innings. The Indian opener, who was batting at 2* off 13 balls at the time, registered her first boundary of the run-chase through her graceful hit, as India raced to 29-0 from three overs.

Watch: Smriti Mandhana launches Sutherland for a huge six

Smriti Mandhana blasted seven more boundaries and shared a match-winning 137-run opening partnership with fellow half-centurion Shafali Verma.

The seasoned campaigner listed a near run-a-ball 54 to register her 23rd half-century in T20Is, until she was dismissed by Australian leg-spinner Georgia Wareham at the brink of the finishing line.

Remarkably, Mandhana also completed 3,000 T20I career runs through the course of her batting masterclass against Australia at the DY Patil Stadium, becoming only the sixth cricketer in women’s history and second Indian after captain Harmanpreet Kaur to reach the landmark figure.

As of now, Mandhana’s T20I profile stands at 3,052 runs at an average of nearly 28, with 23 scores of fifty or more to her name.

The 27-year-old will now turn up for Team India in the second T20I of their three-match series against Australia at the same venue on January 7.

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