"Smriti kept on telling me 'that she was a great bowler'" - Harmanpreet Kaur reveals Mandhana rates herself high as a bowler
Indian batter Smriti Mandhana shocked the cricketing world when she marked her run-up in the 15th over during South Africa's innings. The incident took place during the second WODI between the two sides at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday, June 19.
With a wrong foot action like Virat Kohli, Mandhana struck in the second delivery of her international career to get the better of Sane Luus. It was a length delivery outside the off-stump but jumped a bit higher than expected. Luus went for an extravagant square-cut but the ball found the top edge before Richa Ghosh completed an easy catch.
The wicket was wildly celebrated by players, as they ran around in joy. Fans were equally overjoyed and expressed their appreciation for Smriti Mandhana from the stands.
Reacting to Mandhana's bowling antics, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur revealed that the former always spoke highly of her own bowling.
“In the camp, all the batters bowled, Smriti kept on telling me 'that she was a great bowler' and asked us to show faith. It was good to see her take a wicket," Kaur said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
Mandhana bowled two overs in total and returned with figures of 1/13.
India successfully defended 325 to win the match by four runs. The visiting side gave the Women in Blue a run for their money, with Marizanne Kapp and skipper Laura Wolvaardt scoring centuries. However, Pooja Vastrakar showed nerves to steel to defend 11 runs in the final over.
"Cricket has taught all of us that you can't take anything for granted" - Smriti Mandhana on scoring back-to-back hundreds
India's vice-captain became the first Indian batter to score consecutive ODI hundreds on June 19. She achieved the feat during the second match of the series.
Smriti Mandhana scored a brilliant 117 in the first game and followed it with another breathtaking century today. Asked about scoring two centuries in a row, she said at the mid-innings break:
"Cricket has taught all of us that you can't take anything for granted, you start from 0," she said. "Didn't really think what happened in the last match. It was really important to come out fresh today, do the job for the team. The way they were bowling in the first 15 overs, they bowled brilliantly in right areas, so I had to change the way I had planned my innings. You always start from 0.
"The first 15 overs, a lot of seam movement was happening. Later on, the wicket eased out."
The third and final WODI of the series will be played on Sunday, June 23, in Bengaluru. India have already gained an unassailable 2-0 lead, having won the first WODI by 143 runs in Bengaluru.