The 2nd ODI match of the ongoing three-match ODI series has been taking place between India Women vs South Africa Women at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on June 19. Opener Smriti Mandhana smashed a scintillating century whereas Harmanprit Kaur scored a quick hundred to power India to a massive 325 runs for 5 in the allotted 20 overs.
Put into bat, India had a poor start as Shafali Verma got out very cheaply in Bengaluru. However, India were 100-2 when Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana came together at the end of the 23rd over as well. Notably, Mandhana reached her half-century a couple of overs later, as the duo stepped up the ante. The fifty partnership came up off 46 balls before they changed the gear with 15 overs to go. Mandhana hit three consecutive fours off Nondumiso Shangase to reach the 90s.
Both batters got the benefit from some sloppy fielding from South Africa. Masabata Klaas dropped Harmanpreet Kaur on 41 and paid the price too. An over later Mandhana brought up her century as well. Having scored 19 off 40 balls at one point in her innings, she scored the second 50 in just 33 balls. At the 40-over stage, India reached 207-2, the hundred partnership between Kaur and Mandhana coming up off just 90 balls as well.
However, Harmanpreet Kaur brought up her 24th 50 off 58 balls as well. She went on to accelerate as India reached 300, a total India had never reached in a home ODI before as well. A 19-run over given away by Klaas helped them reach a massive total. Mandhana eventually got out for 136 off 120 balls with 18 fours and two sixes, her highest ODI score.
Her previous best also came against South Africa, 135 back in 2018 at Kimberly as well. Meanwhile, 136 is also the highest individual score in women’s ODIs for India in India, and the fifth highest overall as well. Soon, Kaur also brought up her century in the final over of the innings. She reached the milestone in just 87 balls, her sixth ODI hundred, with nine fours and three sixes.
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However, her innings set the record for the highest strike rate for a player scoring over a hundred for India in a women’s ODI in India (117.00) as well and the fourth-highest strike rate for a centurion overall in women’s ODIs for India. Among them, Kaur also holds two of the top three places as well. Meanwhile, India finished their innings on 325-3, the highest score they’ve ever reached in a women’s ODI in India and their third highest total overall.
Kaur and Mandhana added a 171-run stand – the third-highest for the third wicket for India in women’s ODIs. Their partnership also had the highest runrate for any partnership of over a century or more for the third wicket for India in women’s ODIs, and the fifth-highest for a century stand for any wicket as well. It was also the fourth time two players scored a century in a women’s ODI for India as well.
Meanwhile, Smriti Mandhana has scored seven ODI centuries, equalling Mithali Raj’s record for the most centuries by an Indian woman in this format. However, Smriti Mandhana achieved this milestone in just 83 innings, fewer than Mithali Raj.
Brief Score: India Women vs South Africa Women 2nd ODI
India: 325 for 3 in 50 overs (Smriti Mandhana 136, Harmanpreet Kaur 103 not out; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2/51).
Fans reacted to the stunning centuries:
Dhoni & Kohli 🤝 Smriti & Kaur.
– The love story of Number 7 & Number 18 in Indian cricket. pic.twitter.com/KdeQdIlNEh
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 19, 2024
7(c) + 18(vc) 🥹🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/vQUr4TuAzC
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) June 19, 2024
Jersey no. 7 & 18
VIRAT & DHONI – Men's cricket team
SMRITI & HARMANPREET – Women's cricket team pic.twitter.com/7FzsvW57Ti— PRIYANSHU RANJAN (@92_prime31) June 19, 2024
Both Smriti-Kaur Smashes Century In The Second ODI Against South Africa 🔥
Smriti – 136 Runs Off 120 Balls
Harmanpreet – 103 Runs Off 88 Balls7 & 18 💙#INDWvSAW pic.twitter.com/mvTyiswxG6
— என்றும் தலைவர் ரசிகன்ᴶᴬᴵᴸᴱᴿ💛 (@Rajini12Dhoni7) June 19, 2024
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