The Indian Women’s team had a torrid time in Australia. They were beaten comprehensively in each of the three ODIs. However, they had a couple of positives, including a record-breaking ton from vice-captain Smriti Mandhana.
The left-handed opener smashed her 9th ODI hundred. It came while India were chasing 299 in the third game of the series in Perth. Her 105 off 109 balls which included 14 fours and a six went in vain as India fell 83 runs short of the target.
However, Mandhana broke a few records on the back of that hundred. She now has nine ODI hundreds which puts her joint-fourth on the list of most centuries in the history of Women’s ODI cricket. It is most by any Indian women’s cricketer.
This was also Mandhana’s fourth ODI ton of 2024. She is the first female cricketer to achieve the feat of four ODI hundreds in a calendar year. There are seven others who have racked up three ODI centuries in a calendar year. Laura Wolvaardt (2024), Meg Lanning (2016), Nat Sciver-Brunt (2023), Sophie Devine (2018), Sidra Amin (2022), Amy Satterthwaite (2016) and Belinda Clark (1997) are the cricketers who have got three ODI tons in a year.
Mandhana was the first Indian female to even scale three ODI tons in a calendar year. Prior to this 105 against Australia in Perth, she got back to back hundreds against South Africa in June earlier this year before getting another ton against New Zealand a couple of months back. She has scored 599 runs in 10 ODIs in 2024.
‘Team was looking good after New Zealand series but definitely got outplayed by Australia’: Mandhana
India just didn’t come to the party in the three-match ODI series. Their batting disappointed quite a bit but their bowling was inconsistent as well. India were bowled out for 100 in the first ODI before they got scores of 249 and 215 while chasing scores of 372 and 299 respectively in the last two games.
Mandhana said that the team was in a good space after their series win over New Zealand at home. However, she also admitted that Australia outplayed them, especially in the last two matches.
“It is tough to take because we came here after winning the New Zealand series and it really felt like the team was looking good but definitely got outplayed by Australia. Especially in the second and third ODIs. There were days when our bowling clicked and then when our batting clicked but we didn’t click as a team. Lot of learnings to take and hopefully we work on them,” Mandhana was quoted saying after the game.
India’s next assignment is against West Indies at home. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side will be up against West Indies for three T20Is and three ODIs which will run from 15th December to 27th December.
