In a stunning display of form ahead of the Women’s World Cup, India’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has matched a world record, smashing her 12th One-Day International (ODI) century as an opener in women’s cricket. The milestone came during India’s second ODI against Australia at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Mandhana’s century, a blistering knock of 117 off just 91 balls, was the second-fastest ODI hundred by an Indian woman, only behind her own record of a 70-ball ton against Ireland earlier this year. The record-tying century sees her join a prestigious list that includes New Zealand’s Suzie Bates and England’s Tammy Beaumont, who also have 12 centuries as openers.
What makes Mandhana’s achievement even more remarkable is her pace. She reached the milestone in just 106 innings, significantly faster than Bates (130 innings) and Beaumont (113 innings).
The Indian opener’s brilliant performance was the cornerstone of India’s innings, which saw them post a challenging total of 292. Her century was particularly crucial as it helped India secure a rare and historic victory over Australia, ending their eight-match losing streak against the seven-time world champions in a thrilling 102-run win.
Mandhana’s sensational form this year has also seen her become the first woman in ODI history to score three or more centuries in two separate calendar years. With the home World Cup beginning on September 30, her record-breaking performance serves as a massive confidence boost for the team.
