Vice-captain and opening batter Smriti Mandhana broke several records with her sensational 125 (63) in India’s third ODI against Australia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Saturday.
However, perhaps the most impressive of those was that she became the first-ever Indian batter to score consecutive ODI hundreds twice in women’s cricket. She scored back-to-back centuries against South Africa last year. The left-hander joined England’s Tammy Beaumont (in 2016 and 2025) as one of the two in the world to hit consecutive ODI tons more than once.
The record is a testimony to how Mandhana is arguably India’s best batter ever for the ODI format, with an unmatched understanding of the tricky tempo of the 50-over game and a hunger for big scores.
She
broke some other records too: her 50-ball century was the fastest ever in Indian cricket (men or women), and the second quickest in women’s ODIs, only behind Meg Lanning. Mandhana reached joint-second behind Lanning also for total ODI centuries, with 13, level with New Zealand’s Suzie Bates.
Madhana’s ton goes in vain
Mandhana’s second-fastest century in women’s ODIs was in vain as India’s attempt to achieve a world-record chase in the decisive third game against Australia ended in a 43-run defeat on Saturday.
In response to Australia’s mammoth 412 all out, their joint highest-ever innings total, India faltered after Mandhana’s dismissal at 125 (63 balls, 17×4, 5×6) and were bowled out for 369 in 47 overs.
Deepti Sharma (72 off 58 balls) and Sneh Rana’s 65-run partnership for the eighth wicket offered a glimmer of hope, but once Sharma departed, the hosts’ efforts unraveled.
Mandhana reached her century off just 50 balls, surpassing former Australian batter Karen Rolton’s record (off 57 balls) set in the 2000-01 series against South Africa. Former Australian skipper Meg Lanning tops the list of fastest century makers with a 45-ball century against New Zealand in the 2012-13 season.
Beth Mooney was the star of the day, smashing 138 off just 75 balls (23×4, 1×6) for her fourth WODI ton, guiding her team to a massive total.
She shared a 106-run stand for the third wicket with Ellyse Perry (68 off 70 balls). Opener Georgia Voll provided Australia with the strong start they needed, scoring 81 off 61 balls.
(With agency inputs)
