India’s Smriti Mandhana Becomes the First Indian Women to Hit a Test Ton in Australia!
Ace cricketer, Smriti Mandhana, became the first Indian woman to score a century in a pink ball test.
India’s love for cricket is no surprise for any of us. Our national game might be hockey, but cricket holds a special place in our hearts. Taking our obsession to the next level is star cricketer Smriti Mandhana, as she became the first Indian woman to score a century in a pink ball test. She set this record on Australian soil.
(Photo: Twitter @BCCIWomen)
It was the historic day of 1st October 2021, when Mandhana scored 127 runs out of 216 balls at Carrara, Queensland, against Australia. She achieved the score with 22 boundaries and one sixer. It was Day 2 of the test, and she was 80, not out overnight.
This was the Indian women’s cricket team’s first pink ball test, and it ended in a draw. We might not have won the match, but Mandana’s performance gave India a huge reason to celebrate.
On the first day, Mandhana and cricketer Shafali Verma put together a partnership of 93 runs before Verma had to head back to the pavilion at 31. Next, along with Poonam Raut, they contributed 102 runs for the second wicket. She hit the century in the 52nd over with a short-arm pull-off shot by Australia’s Ellysse Perry.
Indian opener, Smriti Sriniwas Mandhana hails from Maharashtra. She made her ODI debut in 2013 against Bangladesh and Test debut in 2014 against England. The talent for the sport runs in her family. Both her father and brother have played cricket at district levels. Her brother, who used to compete in Under-16 tournaments, inspired her to play. She was selected in the Maharashtra state Under-15 team at 9 and the Under-19 team at the age of 11.
The left-handed batter has several accolades to her name, including Best Women’s International Cricketer by the BCCI in June 2018, Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award for the best female cricketer of the year by ICC in December 2018, and they also named her the ODI player of the year. Becoming the first Indian woman cricket player to score a century at the test last week was another feather in her cap.
The future of women’s cricket is bright with players like Mandhana on the field. She made the country proud and it is achievements like these, where women’s cricket takes the center stage and gets its due attention. We congratulate Smriti Mandhana for her accomplishments and cheer her on for many more to come. She is an inspiration to us all.
This year, Indian cricket team captain Mithali Raj completed her 22 glorious years in the sport. Read the blog to know about her journey. You can also check out our other blogs on the website.
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Image credits: Google