Smriti Mandhana. (BCCI Photo)
NEW DELHI: Smriti Mandhana on Wednesday etched her name in history as she became the first women's cricketer to score four
ODI centuries
in a calendar year. The elegant left-hander achieved this remarkable feat during the third and final ODI against Australia in Perth.
Mandhana’s ability to anchor innings and accelerate when required has been instrumental in team's success, but this time her knock went in vain as India lost to Australia by 83 runs at the
WACA
.'
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Mandhana completed her fifty in 50 deliveries, before going on to score a century from 103 balls. Following her two consecutive hundreds against South Africa in June and one against New Zealand in October, this innings marked Mandhana's fourth century of the year.
Her remarkable feat of scoring four centuries in a calendar year established a new record in women's ODIs, exceeding the previous best of three centuries in a year, which was jointly held by seven players.
South African captain Laura Wolvaardt scored her third ton this year, while the others on the list are Meg Lanning (2016), Nat Sciver-Brunt (2023), Sophie Devine (2018),
Sidra Amin
(2022), Amy Satterthwaite (2016), Belinda Clark (1997).
This latest century took Mandhana's overall ODI century count to nine, placing her alongside Nat Sciver-Brunt, Chamari Athapaththu and Charlotte Edwards in shared fourth position. Her next target would be to equal
Tammy Beaumont's tally of 10 ODI centuries.
Mandhana achieved her ninth ODI century, featuring 14 boundaries and one six. She now trails by only six centuries to match the record for most ODI hundreds, currently held by former Australian captain Meg Lanning, who has 15 to her name.
This accomplishment demonstrates her consistent performance at the highest level and her significant contribution to women's cricket.
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