Smriti Mandhana scored her first ODI century in India today (June 16), bringing up the milestone against South Africa in Bengaluru.
Mandhana now has six ODI hundreds overall and is second to only Mithali Raj on the list of most centuries by women for India in the format. Opening the batting with Shafali Verma, Mandhana lost her opening partner early when Verma was caught behind off the bowling of Masabata Klaas in the fourth over of the match.
India then went on to also lose Dayalan Hemalatha in the powerplay before Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed by Annerie Dercksen, making her ODI debut for South Africa, for 12. With India teetering at 55-3, Mandhana dug in to reach her half century off 61 balls.
Despite losing Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma in consecutive overs, Mandhana built an 81-run partnership with Deepti Sharma for the sixth wicket, before Sharma was dismissed by Ayabonga Khaka for 37 off 48. After Sharma was out in the 38th over when Mandhana was on 84, the opener pushed on to reach three figures.
She hit a six off Klaas to reach 99, the first maximum of India's innings before reaching her hundred with a single off the next ball. It was also the first century in a women's international match at the Chinnaswamy stadium. Mandhana reached 117 off 126 balls before she holed out to Sune Luus in the deep, trying to whack a length ball from Klaas.
India went on to reach 265-8 of their 50 overs, having been 99-5 at one stage. South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt was bowled by Renuka Singh Thakur in the first over of the chase.
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