Bhubaneswar: With a patient knock of 86, which included 11 boundaries, opener Smriti Mandhana steered India to a competitive 274 for 7 against Australia in the second women’s ODI of the three-match series in Mackay on Friday.
Batting coach Shiv Sunder Das on Thursday had promised a different approach by scoring at least 60 runs during the powerplay to counter Australian bowlers. He had also backed the out-of-form Mandhana’s “ability to get the runs.”
This was her 19th half-century.Mandhana shared two crucial partnerships, 76 runs with Richa Ghosh (44) and 74 runs with Shafali Verma (22) before a catch at the point ended her innings.
It is the highest total scored against Australia since their 25-match winning streak started in 2018.
This is how the Twitterati celebrated her comeback.
Congratulation…???
Keep It Up Smriti Mandhana…!!!
From Ozahub.#AUSvIND #SmritiMandhana #IndianCricketTeam #ozahub https://t.co/gvXixEzy5F
— Ozahub (@ozahub) September 24, 2021
One word- “QUEEN”#SmritiMandhana pic.twitter.com/qSqOErzucz
— PRAYAS™❣️DHONI? #whistlepodu (@cricloverPrayas) September 24, 2021
A beautiful innings from beautiful Smriti Mandhana comes to end?✨Missed a well deserved ?? #INDWvAUSW @mandhana_smriti #CricketTwitter#SmritiMandhana pic.twitter.com/aTXVc9KY6S
— ? ABHISHEK BHARDWAJ ? (@_ABHISHEK_ABHI) September 24, 2021
Proud to be a fan of
SMRITI #SmritiMandhana pic.twitter.com/LBvp5pGqI1— Nani Godatha (@GodathaNani) September 24, 2021
What the fudge! ??
Why does this Girl always get out on 80’s and 90’s kya problem hai dost tujhe Smriti se??
Proud of you Smriti you made everyone proud, and fulfilled the expectations of the team and Skip! ???♀️86 (94)
SR: 91.49
11- 4️⃣’s #AUSvIND #SmritiMandhana— Hiya Shah (@jemi_smriti_fan) September 24, 2021
19th ODI Fifty for Smriti Mandhana,Always a treat to watch her bat??? #SmritiMandhana #INDWvAUSW @mandhana_smriti?? pic.twitter.com/MInp5L0CKI
— Basrani Dev (@MSDIAN___DEV) September 24, 2021
2016 – first century, in Australia
2017 – century in England
2018 – century in South Africa
2019 – century in New Zealand
2020 – ❌
2021 – and the wait continues…#SmritiMandhana #AUSvIND— NIK #JustAFan (@nikhikalpita) September 24, 2021
❤️ to haters.#AUSvIND #SmritiMandhana pic.twitter.com/tqNfGLCXOF
— Aishu (@imaishuriya) September 24, 2021
