Media365
India Women’s vice-captain and star batter Smriti Mandhana played a brilliant innings of 109 off 95 balls against New Zealand in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 in Navi Mumbai. Her knock, featuring ten fours and four sixes, helped India breach the 200-run mark in a must-win encounter to secure a semifinal spot. Mandhana’s century marked India’s first of the tournament and came in a stunning display of skill and determination. She was eventually dismissed by Suzie Bates, caught by substitute Hannah Rowe. Opening alongside Pratika Rawal, who also went on to score her maiden World Cup century in the match, Mandhana anchored India’s innings while maintaining an aggressive strike rate too.Her innings also saw the left-hander break and equal multiple international records. With 17 international hundreds, she now shares the record for most hundreds in women’s international cricket with Australia’s Meg Lanning. In ODI cricket alone, Mandhana’s 14 hundreds place her just behind Lanning, who leads with 15.With the likes of Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh yet to bat, India also had a lot to fall back on after Mandhana was dismissed.
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New Zealand Women had opted to bowl first, putting pressure on India to perform in this critical match with both sides in the running for the final semifinal spot. Mandhana’s performance not only set the foundation for a strong total but also reinforced her status as one of the premier batters in women’s cricket today.
