India's stylish opener Smriti Mandhana exhibited a true sportsperson spirit when she shared her 'Player of the Match' trophy with her teammate and deputy skipper Harmanpreet Kaur after the duo wreaked havoc with splendid centuries to power India to a massive 155-run win over West Indies in the Women's World Cup match on Saturday (March 12).
Smriti and Harmanpreet slammed twin centuries as India produced a splendid batting display bring their World Cup campaign back on track after Australia blitz. While Mandhana smashed her fifth ODI hundred, a sensational 123 off 119 balls studded with 13 fours and two sixes, Kaur had 10 hits to the fence and two maximums in her 107-ball 109, which was her fourth ton and the first since hitting 171 not out against Australia in the 2017 World Cup.
As soon as Smriti was adjudged the 'Player of the Match', she walked up with Harmanpreet and said: "I think scoring a century and not being a 'Player of the Match' is something I really wouldn't want as a player. I think we both contributed equally for us to score 300. So, I think it's good for us to share the trophy and I think both are good contenders to get it. We learnt from our mistakes and that's something we thought we are not going to repeat it."
The duo forged a 184-run stand for the fourth wicket, India's highest partnership for any wicket at the women's World Cup, to help the team post its highest total in the history of the showpiece event, a challenging 317 for eight after skipper Mithali Raj won the toss and elected to bat. The 2017 edition finalists then returned to dismiss West Indies for 162 in 40.3 overs to keep themselves in contention for the knockout stage.
"As batters, we both prefer chasing and setting the target both together. Last game we didn't get going and in chasing it's very important to get the momentum. Our strengths are really different because she is really good with spin and I like pace on the ball. So when the spinner comes on I give her the strike and when the pacer comes on she gives me the strike. I'm sure ICC will be giving another trophy and I'm sure they have enough budget to do that," the 25-year-old further added.
By virtue of this win, India now lead the eight-team standings with four points from three games, ahead of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa because of a better net run rate.
