Smriti Mandhana smashes her ninth ODI ton as she scores 105 in the third ODI against Australia. With that, the Indian batter has hit her fourth ODI ton of the year and is the first batter to do so in a single calendar year.
The left-handed batter finally found her rhythm after a challenging start to the series where she struggled in the first couple of matches scoring 17 runs combined.
After being put into bat first, hosts Australia scored 298 runs, posting a competitive total on the board following Annabel Sutherland’s century.
India had a significant challenge of chasing down the total of 299 against. Out walked Smriti Mandhana alongside wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh. India lost their first wicket in the form of Richa Ghosh for 16 with Harleen Deol coming to bat at three. Chasing a big total, Smriti Mandhana took on the charge against Australian bowlers smashing boundaries with elegance.
Mandhana’s half-century came from 50 balls which included ten boundaries. The duo of Harleen and Mandhana were involved in a 118-run stand for the second wicket before Alana King dismissed Deol for 39.
It was Smriti Mandhana who had kept the visitors in the chase and brought her century off 103 balls which was her record-breaking fourth ton of the year in the 50-over format. It was Ashleigh Gardner who ended centurion Mandhana’s stay at the crease, which also effectively ended India’s hope of chasing down the total, eventually losing by 83 runs. Smriti’s innings included 14 boundaries and a maximum.
The prolific batter, Smriti Mandhana has enjoyed a phenomenal run in the ODI format this year, with 599 runs in 10 innings with four centuries and a fifty. She scored two centuries in India’s home series against South Africa, a century against New Zealand and one against Australia.
Most centuries in a calendar year in Women’s ODIs:
Smriti Mandhana – 4 (2024)
Laura Wolvaardt – 3 (2024)
Nat Sciver Brunt – 3 (2023)
Sidra Amin – 3 (2022)
Sophie Devine – 3 (2018)
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