[Watch] Smriti Mandhana gets a standing ovation from Chinnaswamy crowd for her 6th ODI ton during IND-W vs SA-W 1st ODI
India Women vice-captain Smriti Mandhana delivered with the bat against South Africa Women in the first of their three-match ODI series at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday (June 16). The left-hander scored 117 runs off 127 balls in an innings laced with one six and 12 boundaries. It was her sixth ODI ton, second versus the Proteas and first at home.
The 27-year-old kept scoring as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals on the other end. She was eventually caught by Sune Luus off Masabata Klass in the 47th over. India Women ultimately scored 265/8 in 50 overs.
Mandhana achieved the landmark during the 43rd over of India's innings. She smashed Masabata Klaas for a six at mid-on before stealing a single at long-on. She took her helmet off, raised her bat and soaked in the applause as the crowd and teammates rose to their feet.
Watch the celebrations below:
Smriti Mandhana received special treatment from the local fans in Bengaluru after having led the RCB to their first-ever trophy in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) earlier this year.
During her knock, Mandhana also completed 7,000 runs in international cricket. She is only behind former India captain Mithali Raj (10,868) for the most runs as far as the Women in Blue is concerned. India’s reigning skipper Harmanpreet Kaur is third with 6860 runs.
“Thank you, I knew that I have never scored a century in India” – Smriti Mandhana on her first century in India
Smriti Mandhana expressed her delight as she brought up her first century in India, especially on a challenging wicket. She backed India Women to defend the total. In the mid-match show, she said (via Jio Cinema):
“Thank you, I knew that I have never scored a century in India but it didn’t come to my mind when I was batting. Really happy that we have got to a good score.
"It was a little two-paced wicket, it was not a bad wicket to bat, one-odd ball was keeping low, another was taking off, it's not a bad wicket to bat on and that’s why I mentioned we need to go out and bowl well.”
At the time of writing, SA Women were 94/6 after 30 overs while chasing 266.
The second match of the series will be played at the same venue on Wednesday (June 19).
Follow the IND-W vs SA-W 1st ODI live score and updates here.