The second ODI between India and South Africa saw numerous records broken and many new milestones achieved. From Smriti Mandhana, who equaled the most hundreds for India in ODIs, to Marizanne Kapp, who crossed the 3,000 runs mark, it was a match filled with significant achievements.
The match also marked the record for the most centuries in an ODI. India’s vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, scored a ton, followed by India’s skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. Two Proteas batters, Marizanne Kapp and Laura Wolvaardt, also added their names to the list while chasing a daunting total of 326.
Smriti Mandhana
It was a day to remember for the Mumbai-based cricketer, who broke several records in the second ODI between India and South Africa. She scored the highest score by an Indian in India, with a stunning 136. Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur became only the third pair with multiple 150-plus partnerships for the third (or lower) wicket in women’s ODIs. Mandhana also became the first Indian to score consecutive centuries, following her 117 from the series opener with a 136 in the 2nd ODI. Additionally, she took her maiden international wicket, dismissing Sune Luus.
Harmanpreet Kaur
The Indian skipper had a magnificent outing in the second ODI. After being dismissed for only 10 runs in the first ODI, Harmanpreet took centre stage by smashing a century in the second ODI with her aggressive batting. Idolising Indian legend Virender Sehwag, she scored a century in a style reminiscent of his. Kaur’s unbeaten 103 is also the fastest hundred recorded by an Indian in women’s ODIs, surpassing her own 90-ball century against Australia in the 2017 World Cup semi-final.
Marizanne Kapp
Marizanne Kapp came into the series purely as a batter. Although the Proteas all-rounder had an ordinary outing in the first match of the three-ODI series, being dismissed for 24 off 39 balls, she bounced back in the second ODI, scoring a brilliant 114 at a destructive strike rate of 121. Despite her century, India won the match by four runs, defending 326. Kapp’s century kept the Proteas in the hunt throughout the chase, particularly after they lost three wickets for 67 runs.
Laura Wolvaardt
The Proteas skipper had mixed feelings after facing the first and last balls of the chase, still not managing to secure a win. The right-hand batter remained unbeaten on 135, scoring at a run-a-ball pace. However, with five runs required off the last ball, she couldn’t connect the shot. Despite this, there is much to celebrate, as she became the youngest batter to cross 4,000 runs in women’s ODIs and the innings she stitched to keep her team in the chase was nothing short of brilliant.
The second ODI was indeed a memorable match, filled with exceptional performances and record-breaking feats from both teams.