India opener Smriti Mandhana smashed a world record with a brilliant knock during the first ODI of the series against West Indies at Vadodara. She looked in great form during the match but missed out on a well-deserved hundred.
After this innings, she completed 1600 runs in international cricket in the year 2024. It is a big achievement for the left-handed opener as she surpassed South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, who has scored 1593 runs this year.
Also read: Rohit Sharma & Co. issued ‘Steve Smith will make double hundred’ warning ahead of MCG Test
Smriti Mandhana smashes world record
Mandhana has 1602 runs to her name this year in international cricket currently which is the most by any batter in women’s international cricket in a calendar year in history. Interestingly, Mandhana was already among the top five batters of this list having scored the most number of runs in 2018 and 2022.
It is the third time she has made it into the list which shows the consistency with which she bats. Apart from her, South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt and England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt are also on this list.
With two more ODIs to be played this year against the same opposition, Mandhana will be expected to add more runs to her tally. Over the years, she has been extremely consistent at the top order for India.
Before the ongoing series against West Indies, Mandhana also had an excellent series against South Africa where she smashed 343 runs in three ODIs at an average of 114.33 and a strike rate of 103.93. She scored two hundreds and one fifty in the whole series.
Most international runs in a year in women’s cricket
- Smriti Mandhana (India)- 1602 runs in 2024
- Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) – 1593 runs in 2024
- Nat Sciver-Brunt (England) – 1346 runs in 2022
- Smriti Mandhana (India) – 1291 runs in 2018
- Smriti Mandhana (India) – 1290 runs in 2022
Mandhana now has MOST women’s international runs in a year.
3 times in top-5 list!
1602 – Mandhana🇮🇳 in 2024
1593 – Laura Wolvaardt🇿🇦 in 2024
1346 – Nat Sciver-Brunt🏴 in 2022
1291 – Smriti Mandhana🇮🇳 in 2018
1290 – Smriti Mandhana🇮🇳 in 2022#INDvWI pic.twitter.com/QxWDHyk5Ve— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) December 22, 2024
India pile up a big score at Vadodara
Meanwhile, West Indies won the toss and elected to field on a good batting surface at Vadodara. India started cautiously with the debutant Pratika Rawal and Mandhana looking to preserve wickets.
India were lucky with some dropped catches from the West Indies but Rawal’s luck ran out and he was finally dismissed for 40 off 49 balls. Harleen Deol came in at No. 3 and stitched a good partnership with Mandhana.
Mandhana looked in sublime touch once she got set and smashed the bowlers with utter ease all around the ground. She looked good for a century but was dismissed by the left-arm spinner Zaida James while trying to attempt a paddle behind the wicket.
But skipper Harmanpreet Kaur didn’t let the momentum slow down and smashed a quickfire 34 off 23 balls. Richa Ghosh and Jemimah Rodrigues played fiery cameos down the order to take India to a significant total of 314-9 in 50 overs.
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