The Indian women’s cricket team, led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, is hosting South Africa for a multi-format series from June 16 to July 9. India currently leads the One-Day Internationals (ODIs) series 1-0. In the 2nd ODI, Smriti Mandhana scored her seventh ODI century 136 (120), marking her consecutive century in the series.
Mandhana’s performance has been stellar, with back-to-back hundreds, achieving her seventh ODI century and equalling Mithali Raj’s record for the most number of ODI hundreds by an Indian woman.
In the 1st ODI against the Proteas on June 16, 2024, Mandhana scored 117 runs off 127 deliveries, including twelve fours and one six, with a strike rate of 92.13. Despite losing her fellow opening batters early, Mandhana held firm and batted deep into the innings, eventually getting out at 46.1 overs. Courtesy of contributions from Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar, following Smriti’s scintillating ton, India reached a respectable total of 265/8. The Indian bowlers then excelled, bowling out South Africa for 122, leading to a 143-run victory for India.
In the 2nd ODI, Mandhana scored 136 runs off 120 balls, with eighteen fours and two sixes, achieving a strike rate of 113.33. India had a slow start and lost Shafali Verma early, at 38/1 in 11.4 overs. Mandhana began cautiously, scoring only 19 runs off her first 40 balls. After Verma’s dismissal, she gradually increased her scoring rate, amassing 90 runs in her next 69 balls, eventually reaching her seventh ODI century.
With this century, Mandhana became the third-youngest woman cricketer to score seven ODI centuries, at 27 years and 337 days, just behind Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt.
136 Runs
120 Balls
18x4s
2x6s– Consecutive Double Centuries 🔥
– Personal ODI Best #CricketTwitter #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/pAcWi9vLYB— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 19, 2024
The youngest woman to score seven ODI centuries:
23y 334d Meg Lanning (Australia)
24y 357d Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)
27y 337d Smriti Mandhana (India)
28y 161d Suzie Bates (New Zealand)
28y 273d Tammy Beaumont (England)
Mandana also holds the record for the top 3 Women’s ODI scores for India against South Africa, with her 136 in the 2nd WODI leading the list.
Moment of joy for Smriti Mandhana on completing her Century 😍🇮🇳#CricketTwitter #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/RroTsSkbbN
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 19, 2024
Highest ODI score for India women against South Africa:
136 Smriti Mandhana at Bangalore, 2024
135 Smriti Mandhana at Kimberley, 2018
117 Smriti Mandhana at Bangalore, 2024