Smriti Mandhana Scores Century as India Clinches ODI Series Against New Zealand
As the chase progressed, the Indian batting pair accelerated their efforts, particularly in the 37th over, indicating their intent to finish the match decisively. Harmanpreet notched her half-century off 54 balls, while Mandhana celebrated her eighth ODI century, surpassing Mithali Raj's record of seven.
In a decisive match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Smriti Mandhana showcased her remarkable form by scoring her third ODI century of 2024, leading India to a convincing victory over New Zealand. India chased down a target of 232 runs, winning by six wickets with 34 balls to spare, thereby securing the series with a 2-1 margin.
Mandhana's innings of 100 runs off 122 balls featured significant partnerships, particularly with Yastika Bhatia, who contributed 35 runs, and Harmanpreet Kaur, who remained unbeaten on 59. Despite an early loss of Shafali Verma to a delivery from Hannah Rowe, India maintained a steady approach throughout their innings.
The Indian captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, played a pivotal role in the chase, rotating the strike effectively while Mandhana increased her scoring rate. After reaching her fifty in 73 balls, Mandhana quickly found her range, hitting ten boundaries throughout her innings. A minor concern arose when Harmanpreet required treatment for a leg issue, but she continued to play without interruption.
As the chase progressed, the Indian batting pair accelerated their efforts, particularly in the 37th over, indicating their intent to finish the match decisively. Harmanpreet notched her half-century off 54 balls, while Mandhana celebrated her eighth ODI century, surpassing Mithali Raj's record of seven.
New Zealand faced further challenges as they lost wickets at regular intervals, eventually being reduced to 88 for 5. Brooke Halliday attempted to stabilize the innings and scored a commendable 86 runs off 96 balls, but her efforts were insufficient to push New Zealand to a competitive total.
In the end, New Zealand managed to post 232 runs in 49.5 overs, with Halliday's innings being the standout performance. Deepti Sharma was the pick of the bowlers for India, claiming three wickets for 39 runs, while Priya Mishra supported well with figures of 2 for 41.
The match ended with India successfully chasing down the target, showcasing a blend of solid batting and improved fielding, paving the way for a successful series conclusion.
