Mandhana Makes History with Back-to-Back Tons

Indian cricket fans witnessed history on Wednesday as Smriti Mandhana, the star opener of the women’s team, became the first Indian woman to score centuries in two ODI matches in a row! This incredible feat took place during the second ODI against South Africa at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Mandhana’s knock of 136 runs in just 120 balls was instrumental in putting India in a strong position to win the series. This comes after her impressive 117 runs in the first ODI on Sunday. By achieving this double feat, Mandhana has also equalled former Indian captain Mithali Raj‘s record for most ODI centuries by an Indian woman (both have 7).

Not only is this a historic moment for Mandhana, but it’s also her highest score in ODI cricket, surpassing her previous best of 135 against South Africa in 2018. It’s also the fourth-highest score by any Indian batter in women’s ODIs and the third-highest by an opener!

This isn’t the only record broken in this match. Batting alongside Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur also scored a brilliant century (103 runs) – her sixth – to further strengthen India’s position. Their 171-run partnership for the third wicket was a crucial turning point in the game.

With India setting a target of 325 runs, South Africa currently has a tough challenge ahead, needing 170 runs with 18 overs remaining.

This series is part of the ongoing ICC Women’s Championship, a competition that helps decide which teams qualify for the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup. India has already secured their spot as the host nation, but this series is a great opportunity for them to showcase their skills.

The final match of the series against South Africa will be played on June 23rd, followed by a one-off Test match and a three-match T20I series. With Mandhana in top form, Indian fans have a lot to look forward to!