India's star batter Smriti Mandhana created a stunning record on Friday (August 4), as she became the first player to notch 500 runs in the Women's Hundred in the match against Welsh Fire in Southampton. Playing for Southern Brave Mandhana also notched the record of smashing most fifties in 100-ball tournament. She has now amassed 503 runs and belted five fifties in the Women's Hundred tournament.
Before the match against, Mandhana was tied with her fellow Indian cricketer, Jemimah Rodrigues, each with four fifty-plus scores in the history of the Women's Hundred tournament. However, Mandhana's exceptional performance on Friday saw her surpass Rodrigues, setting a new record. Danni Wyatt, who is also a teammate of Mandhana in Southern Brave, has matched Rodrigues with four 50-plus scores.
Notably, in the 2022 season of The Hundred, Smriti Mandhana led the score charts for Southern Braves with 211 runs. During the 2021 edition of the tournament, she had amassed 167 runs. Continuing her impressive form, Smriti has already scored 125 runs in just two matches in the 2023 edition of The Hundred.
Achieving her half-century in just 33 balls with a splendid boundary through the mid-wicket region off Freya Davies, Mandhana concluded her innings with an unbeaten 70 runs off 42 balls, including 11 boundaries.
Unfortunately, Mandhana's superb knock went unrewarded as the Brave lost the match by a slim margin of four runs. Despite back-to-back fifties by Mandhana, the team fell short with five runs needed off the last ball.
On the winning side, Hayley Matthews starred with a 65-run knock off 38 balls, including 13 fours, enabling the Fire to reach the second-highest score in the Women's Hundred's history. Her contribution also extended to picking up the crucial wicket of Chloe Tryon, earning her the Player of the Match award.
Mandhana's form in the tournament has been nothing short of phenomenal. While her 125 runs from two games at an average of 125 and a strike-rate of 160.25 depict her dominance, there seems to be a mistake in the article as she is described as the leading wicket-taker. Given the context, this likely refers to her being the leading run-scorer in the tournament.
Under the leadership of Anya Shrubsole, Southern Brave is currently holding the third position in the standings with two points and a net run rate of 0.575, reflecting a single victory in two matches.
Smriti Mandhana's accomplishment in the Women's Hundred adds yet another feather to her cap, strengthening her status as one of the leading figures in women's cricket, not only in India but globally. Her consistent performances continue to be a driving force in women's cricket and inspire the next generation of players.
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