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Providence, November 18
Smriti Mandhana had not been very happy with her form in the Women’s World Twenty20 — she had contributed 61 runs in three innings in India’s first three wins. She wanted much more, and that’s exactly what she got yesterday against their toughest rival so far, Australia.
Opening the batting, Smriti made 83 off 55 balls to power India to 167/8. Australia failed in the chase, having suffered a setback when star player Alyssa Healy, the Player of the Match in their three previous wins, was injured while fielding and could not bat.
India, though, were deserving winners, and Smriti the deserving Player of the Match. “First three matches I got starts but couldn’t convert it. So I just wanted to score big today,” she said. “The way we bowled and fielded today was the best of the four games, but batting-wise the performance against New Zealand was better.”
“I’m very happy with the girls,” said captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who herself smashed 43 off 27 balls in a 68-run partnership in seven overs with Smriti. “We worked very hard and today we fielded well and I am proud of the girls. Hope the sort of partnership I had with Smriti can keep coming.”
Milestone 1k
Smriti made her 1,000th T20I run during her innings, becoming the third Indian woman after Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur to reach this landmark. Overall, she’s the 25th woman cricketer to make 1,000 T20I runs. She reached the mark in her 51st match, playing her 49th innings. Mithali had reached 1,000 runs in her 40th match and innings. Harmanpreet reached the milestone in her 62nd match, 54th innings. — Agencies
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