Smriti Mandhana is a talent like no other, as she has shown in only two outings at the Women’s World Cup so far.
Left-handers always have a reputation for elegant strokeplay, Mandhana goes a notch higher. She may be just 20 but her timing on the off-side is exemplary. Already in the ongoing Women’s World Cup in the United Kingdom, she has hit two match-winning knocks, a 90 against England and a 106 against West Indies and looks set for more.
But the opener has shown her prowess with the bat several times in the past, be in the famous Test win in England where she scored a match-winning half century, or her performances in Australia. Here’s a look at her top three innings in ODI cricket.
A hurricane against West Indies
A knock where Smriti Mandhana proved she could both play sheet anchor and rapid aggressor. Any hope that West Indies might have had of defending 184 were swiftly laid to rest by the 20-year-old as she tore into Shamila Connell, taking her for 10 in an over. When the second wicket fell, she quickly established an easy rapport with captain Mithali Raj serenely taking on the singles. Spin and pace got equal treatment as Mandhana ensured there would be no missing out on a major landmark this time, becoming the third-youngest player to score a century in a Women’s World Cup.
Maiden century in a losing cause
The ton with which Mandhana announced herself on the world stage. Playing against Australia in Australia is tough at any level, more so after you’ve lost the first match and seen your partner being dismissed for a duck on the very first ball. That hardly unnerved Mandhana though as she put on an exhibition of exhilarating hitting, putting on a partnership of 150 with Mithali Raj. Her 102 had eleven fours in it, but a late collapse meant Australia chased down their target of 253.
Deflating the hosts
Three-time world champions England were favourites. Fourth-ranked India were not. So when Heather Knight won the toss at the inaugural match of the 2017 Women’s World Cup and put India in, she expected to bundle them out quickly.
She didn’t account for Mandhana though. In a display of pure, unadulterated timing, the 20-year-old announced her welcome to the World Cup by smacking Katherine Brunt for four boundaries in over, one on the on-side and three on the off. Her strike rate was over 200 at one stage and not even once did it come below 100, through the entire knock. Mandhana put on a mammoth 144 with Punam Raut for the first wicket with only one regret – she missed a century by 10 runs, holing out for a 70-ball 92.
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