Mandhana hails Harmanpreet for 'making job easy' in record innings

Bengaluru,UPDATED: Jun 19, 2024 17:27 IST

India opener Smriti Mandhana scored her second century in two games against South Africa. Mandhana, despite starting slow in her innings (0 off 18) finished with a stunning 136 off 120 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The Indian opener thanked captain Harmanpreet Kaur for her help through the innings.

Harmanpreet eased off the pressure on Mandhana with her fluent strokeplay and finished with a century herself (103 off 88).

"The wicket wasn't playing the way it was in the first match. So, had to change a few things initially, not used to being 0 off 18 balls, but I had to tackle that situation. Later on when Harmanpreet came, she batted beautifully from the first ball and made my job easy," Mandhana said at the mid innings break.

"Really happy that we could get a 200+ score and she could get a hundred in the last over. Cricket has taught that we can't take anything for granted. It was really important to come out fresh today and not think what happened in the last match. They bowled brilliantly in the first 15 overs, so I had to change my plan. Cricket has taught that you always start from 0," she further added.

Mandhana scripted history on Wednesday, June 17 as she equalled former captain Mithali Raj's all-time Indian record for the most number of hundreds in women's ODIs. Smriti notched up her 7th ODI hundred in another stroke-filled knock in Bengaluru. Smriti was thrilled after she got to the three-figure score, punching the air in delight before she removed her helmet and acknowledged all the love from the crowd.

Smriti Mandhana was dismissed for 136 off 120 balls in the 46th over when she tried to Nonkululeko Mlaba over the cover region. Smriti was embraced by captain Harmanpreet who was batting in 70s when she walked up to Smriti and congratulated her. The entire Indian dug-out congratulated Smriti for her milestone on Wednesday.