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Smriti Mandhana broke the record previously held by Harmanpreet Kaur, who had scored a century in 87 balls against South Africa in Bengaluru last year.
Smriti Mandhana made 135 off 80. (BCCI Photo)
Smriti Mandhana on Wednesday broke the record for the fastest century by an Indian women batter in ODI history. Mandhana took 70 deliveries to score her hundred during the third ODI against Ireland in Rajkot on Wednesday and surpassed the previous record held by Harmanpreet Kaur.
The record for the fastest hundred in women’s ODIs is held by Australia’s Meg Lanning who took 45 deliveries to get to the milestone.
Mandhana has been in sublime form this series while also captaining the team in the absence of regular captain Harmanpreet.
Mandhana clattered 12 fours and seven sixes during to hit 135 off 80 as she stitched a 233-run partnership with Pratika Rawal after India opted to bat first.
Kaur had scored a century in 87 balls against South Africa in Bengaluru last year which was the quickest by an Indian batter in women’s ODI history before Mandhana’s effort on Wednesday.
Overall, Mandhana’s hundred is the joint-seventh fastest in women’s ODIs alongside former England cricketer Charlotte Edwards.
With her 10th ODI hundred, Mandhana also moved to joint third on the all-time list of most centuries in women’s ODIs, alongside England’s Tammy Beaumont. The list is led by former Australia captain Meg Lanning (15) and New Zealand’s Suzie Bates (13).
The 28-year-old opener scored 41 in the series opener and 73 in the second ODI as India took 2-0 lead.
Eyeing a 3-0 clean sweep, India won the toss and opted to bat first at the Niranjan Shah Stadium. India rested Saima Thakor and Priya Mishra with Tanuja Kanwar and Minnu Mani replacing them in the playing XI while Ireland fielded an unchanged XI.
Mandhana and Rawal pummeled Irish bowlers with a double-century stand for the first wicket.
The stand was broken when Orla Prendergast struck with the wicket of the India skipper in the 27th over.
Mandhana had a memorable 2024 during which she scored 747 runs from 13 ODIs at an average of 57.46.
