"She was about to break record of Babar Azam"- Fans react as Smriti Mandhana falls 10 runs short of 3rd consecutive century in INDW vs SAW ODI series
Indian women's team opener Smriti Mandhana missed out on the opportunity to score three consecutive centuries on Sunday (June 23). She came close but fell just ten runs short of the milestone during the 3rd ODI against South Africa at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
After opting to bat first, South Africa managed to score 215/8 in 50 overs on a decent batting surface. Captain Laura Wolvaardt top-scored for the African team with a knock of 61 (57). She received some support from the likes of Tazmin Brits (38), Nadine de Klerk (26), and Mieke de Ridder (26).
India then got off to a steady start with a 61-run opening partnership between Shafali Verma (25) and Smriti Mandhana. Shafali departed in the 12th over without converting her start into a big score.
Mandhana continued fluently at the other end and steered India towards the target with an impactful knock. En route to 90 (83), she hit 11 fours before Nonkululeko Mlaba dismissed her in the 31st over. The match was firmly in India's control by then, as they reached 220/4 in 40.4 overs and won comfortably by six wickets.
Smriti Mandhana finished the three-match series with an astonishing 343 runs. Fans took note of her phenomenal performances in the series and expressed their reactions on X. Here are some of the top reactions:
"HEARTBREAK FOR SMRITI MANDHANA. 90 (83) with 11 fours - missed out on a golden opportunity to become the first Asian to score 3 consecutive centuries in women's ODIs," a fan wrote.
"Dismissed for 90 runs, missed a well deserving hundred by just 10 runs but what a series for her, Truly the Queen of Indian cricket," a fan wrote in praise of Mandhana.
"Well played smriti absolutely top knock batting, once again," a fan wrote.
"3 in 3 would be amazing but this too is an achievement too celebrate," a fan wrote.
"Smriti Mandhana has scored 343 runs in this series against SA. She was about to break the record of Babar Azam for scoring most number of runs in a 3 match ODI series i.e 360. Babar did that against West Indies in UAE. What a classy player Mandhana is. Absolutely rocked," another fan wrote.
"Really happy we won all the three matches"- Smriti Mandhana after receiving Player of the Series award
At the post-match presentation, Smriti Mandhana deservingly received the Player of the Series award for her exceptional batting performances across three games. Reflecting on the same, she said:
"Unfortunately, got out today. Was batting better than the first two matches but those kind of shots, those things happen in cricket. But really happy we won all the three matches. The bowlers bowled really well today, to keep them to 210 on this kind of wicket wad really good."
Mandhana continued:
"We have a big home season coming up, a Test match and the T20s, the Asia cup and then the big World Cup. We have had good camps and Amol Sir worked really well on us and that was very important. I don't think after today's over I will get to bowl again (laughs). Good to add skills, got luck with the wicket last match."
Smriti will be back on the field on Friday (June 28), when India face off against South Africa in a Test match in Chennai.