Happy Birthday Smriti Mandhana: A look at No.1 ranked ODI batswoman's memorable knocks
Indian women's team opener Smriti Mandhana is celebrating her 23rd birthday today (18 July).
Indian women's team opener Smriti Mandhana is celebrating her 23rd birthday today (18 July). Born in 1996, the Mumbai cricketer is a stalwart of the Indian women’s cricket team.
She is considered as one of the best batswomen in the current generation and is even ranked No. 1 in ODI rankings. She even captained women's IPL team Trailblazers.
The southpaw grabbed the limelight through stellar performances in the ICC Women's World T20 in 2018. She scored 178 runs in five matches and was tournament's third-highest run aggregator.
Since then there was no stopping her as she continued to pile up runs in international and Franchise cricket. Mandhana was also recently felicitated with Arjuna Award for her brilliant performance in 22 yards. The 23-year-old will next feature in the KIA Super League 2019.
While netizens are making sure to wish the cricketer a very happy birthday, let's have a look at the left-handed batswoman incredible knocks:
The Indian women's team had toured New Zealand in 2019. Smriti Mandhana went all guns blazing against the New Zealand bowlers in Napier.
The Kiwis batted first and got bundled out for 192. The southpaw, however, scored the magnificent 105* to guide India to a nine-wicket victory.
In the three-match ODI series against South Africa in 2018, in the second ODI, Mandhana scored 135 after missing out in the first game.
The number one ranked ODI batswoman guided India to a mammoth 302 runs, which proved to be too much for the Proteas. Indian went on to win the match by 178 runs.
The left-handed batswoman created history in New Zealand during the first T20 international tour in 2019.
Her fifty off 24 deliveries became the fastest fifty in women's T20 internationals. She, however, got dismissed for 58 and India went on to lose the match by 23 runs.
The Australians have always been a dreaded side in the cricketing world. During the ICC Women's World T20 in 2018, Mandhana piled up a quickfire fifty on a bowling-friendly wicket.
She scored 83 and guided India to a competitive 167 runs. The Australian batting line-up could not stand India's bowling unit and India won the match by 48 runs.