When Smriti Mandhana is in kind, she places a smile on the cricket fan’s face. On Tuesday evening, she introduced the grins again to the Indian workforce, too.
The fashionable left-hander, who provides a lot pleasure to connoisseurs of the artwork of cricket, hit a glowing 100 (122b, 10×4) to assist India coast to a six-wicket win towards New Zealand within the third ODI. Chasing 232, the Ladies in Blue obtained house with 5 overs and 4 balls to spare.
They thus gained the sequence 2-1, some comfort after the frustration within the current T20 World Cup within the UAE. Beating the champion may need made it appear a bit sweeter.
AS IT HAPPENED: IND-W vs NZ-W Highlights, third ODI: Smriti hits hundred, Harmanpreet scores fifty
It was two partnerships that includes Smriti that made the chase a stroll within the park for India. After the early dismissal of Shafali Verma, she placed on 76 for the second wicket with wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia (35, 49b, 4×4) and 117 for the third with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (59 not out, 63b, 6×4).
This was Smriti’s eighth century in ODIs and now has overtaken Mithali Raj because the main scorer of a whole bunch for India. She might have taken a while to seek out her rhythm, however as soon as she did, these lofts, pulls and drives flew off her blade.
Earlier, Brooke Halliday’s career-best 86 (96b, 9×4, 3×6) helped the White Ferns get better from a batting collapse. Half the facet was again within the pavilion earlier than the midway mark of the innings.
At 88 for 5, the Indians might have hoped for a shorter goal to chase, however Halliday stood agency. She battled onerous towards the spirited Indian assault and the oppressive warmth, selecting solely the proper balls to go onerous at.
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The visiting facet had begun disastrously with Suzies Bates getting run out within the seventh over. Within the subsequent over, Saima Thakor obtained the ball to form away somewhat to supply a thick exterior edge off Lauren Down, and when the brand new spinning child on the block, Priya Mishra’s googly cleaned up Sophie Devine, New Zealand was in hassle.
Priya and Saima would strike once more earlier than lengthy, however Halliday discovered assist from wicketkeeper Isabella Gaze (25, 49b), and so they added 64 for the sixth wicket.
Then Lea Tahuhu’s quickfire 24 not out (14b, 2×4, 1×6) gave the whole the of entirety, one which was destined to be eclipsed by the Smriti.