Smriti Mandhana’s hundred helps Indian women wallop South Africa to seal series

Opener Smriti Mandhana slammed a quick-fire 135 as Indian women’s cricket team produced yet another clinical display to beat South Africa by 178 runs in the second ODI and clinch the three-match series at Kimberly on Wednesday. By virtue of this win, India have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, which is part of the ICC Women’s Championship.

Sent into bat, left-handed Mandhana started from where she left in the first game and smashed 135 off just 129 balls to form the base for India’s 302 for three. She hit 14 boundaries and a six en route to her century. Incidentally, this is Mandhana’s second ODI century against South Africa. Mandhana had earlier made a 98-ball 84 in India’s 88-run win over South Africa in the first ODI.

Besides Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur (55 not out) and Veda Krishnamurthy (51 not out) contributed to India’s total. Opener Punam Raut (20) and skipper Mithali Raj (20) also got starts but failed to prolong their stay at the crease.

All the South Africa bowlers looked helpless in front of the Indian batswomen as they could just manage to take three wickets with Sune Luus registering best figures of one for 31. Just like …read more