When Smriti Mandhana is in form, she puts a smile on the cricket fan’s face. On Tuesday night, she brought the smiles back to the Indian team, too.
The stylish left-hander, who gives much joy to connoisseurs of the art of cricket, hit a sparkling 100 (122b, 10×4) to help India coast to a six-wicket win against New Zealand in the third ODI. Chasing 232, the Women in Blue got home with five overs and four balls to spare.
They thus won the series 2-1, some consolation after the disappointment in the recent T20 World Cup in the UAE. Beating the champion might have made it seem a bit sweeter.
AS IT HAPPENED: IND-W vs NZ-W Highlights, 3rd ODI: Smriti hits hundred, Harmanpreet scores fifty
It was two partnerships featuring Smriti that made the chase a stroll in the park for India. After the early dismissal of Shafali Verma, she put on 76 for the second wicket with wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia (35, 49b, 4×4) and 117 for the third with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (59 not out, 63b, 6×4).
This was Smriti’s eighth century in ODIs and now has overtaken Mithali Raj as the leading scorer of hundreds for India. She may have taken some time to find her rhythm, but once she did, those lofts, pulls and drives flew off her blade.
Earlier, Brooke Halliday’s career-best 86 (96b, 9×4, 3×6) helped the White Ferns recover from a batting collapse. Half the side was back in the pavilion before the halfway mark of the innings.
At 88 for five, the Indians may have hoped for a shorter target to chase, but Halliday stood firm. She battled hard against the spirited Indian attack and the oppressive heat, choosing only the right balls to go hard at.
RELATED: Smriti Mandhana breaks Mithali Raj’s record for most ODI hundreds by Indian batter
The visiting side had begun disastrously with Suzies Bates getting run out in the seventh over. In the next over, Saima Thakor got the ball to shape away a little to produce a thick outside edge off Lauren Down, and when the new spinning kid on the block, Priya Mishra’s googly cleaned up Sophie Devine, New Zealand was in trouble.
Priya and Saima would strike again before long, but Halliday found support from wicketkeeper Isabella Gaze (25, 49b), and they added 64 for the sixth wicket.
Then Lea Tahuhu’s quickfire 24 not out (14b, 2×4, 1×6) gave the total the finishing touch, one that was destined to be eclipsed by the Smriti.
