International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Jay Shah on Thursday congratulated Smriti Mandhana after the India opener scored a record-breaking century and became the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket during the team’s 137-run victory over Hong Kong-China in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup.
Mandhana smashed a stroke-filled 124 off 64 balls, including 14 fours and seven sixes, to help India post 193/5 after Hong Kong-China opted to field. India’s bowlers then dismissed the opposition for 56 to secure a comprehensive victory.
“Heartiest congratulations to Smriti Mandhana on becoming the highest run-scorer (10,880*) and the leading century-maker (18) in Women’s International Cricket,” Shah wrote in an Instagram story on Thursday.
“Your journey is a testament to elegance, consistency and sheer hard work. You have not only rewritten the record books, but also redefined aspirations for millions of young girls and boys across India and the world,” he added.
Opening alongside Shafali Verma, Mandhana negotiated a slow surface in Dubai before accelerating to her second T20I century. She became the first Indian women’s batter to score two T20I centuries.
Her knock took her past former India captain Mithali Raj’s international career tally of 10,868 runs, while her 18th international century across formats moved her ahead of Australia’s Meg Lanning for the most centuries in women’s international cricket.
Mandhana opened her account with a sweep off wrist-spinner Kary Chan in the second over, while Shafali provided the early impetus. In the sixth over, Shafali smashed two sixes and two fours off Marina Lamplough to take India to 60/0 at the end of the powerplay.
The opening partnership, their 29th fifty-plus stand in T20Is, ended in the eighth over when Shafali miscued a full toss from off-spinner Ruchitha Venkatesh and was dismissed for 28. Pratika Rawal was then dismissed for 10 in the 13th over.
Mandhana accelerated in the latter stages, bringing up her half-century off 41 balls. She adapted to the lack of pace by using back-foot strokes and lofted shots, including three successive sixes off Ruchitha in the 18th over.
She reached her century off 58 balls by cutting Marina through backward point. Her final score of 124 also became the highest individual score in Women’s T20 Asia Cup history, surpassing Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu’s unbeaten 119 against Malaysia in 2024.
Mandhana was run out on the penultimate ball of the innings following a mid-pitch mix-up with Bharti Fulmali. Richa Ghosh scored 11 and captain Harmanpreet Kaur made 10 as India finished on 193/5.
Despite Mandhana’s record-breaking innings, India’s middle order contributed only 34 runs, an area that could remain a concern for the team going forward.
(IANS Inputs)
