Smriti Mandhana creates HISTORY! Becomes the first player to achieve…

New Delhi: In Harmanpreet Kaur’s absence, Smriti Mandhana made history on Thursday (December 19) at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai during the series decider against the West Indies. She maintained her outstanding form in international cricket, marking a significant achievement.

After the West Indies won the toss and opted to bowl first, Mandhana provided India with a fast start, helping the Women in Blue score 61 runs during the powerplay. The substitute Indian captain struck boundaries on seven consecutive deliveries from Chinelle Henry and Deandra Dottin.

Mandhana reached her half-century in a mere 27 balls, setting a new world record previously held by Suzie Bates. She scored 77 runs off 47 balls before being dismissed by Dottin, as India posted an impressive total of 217.

Smriti Mandhana last 4 international innings
Runs:- 105, 54, 84, 77, pic.twitter.com/pxh0L6cjPF

— Dr Artistic Soul (@dr_artisticsoul) December 19, 2024

Smriti Mandhana creates history:
Mandhana’s half-century was her 30th in T20Is, setting a new record for the most 50+ scores by a female cricketer in the shortest format. Suzie Bates had previously recorded 29 such scores, comprising 28 half-centuries and one century.

Mandhana also achieved another significant milestone by becoming the player with the most Women’s T20I runs in a single calendar year. She surpassed the record set by the legendary Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu in 2024. Mandhana is now the fourth female cricketer in history to accumulate over 700 runs in a year.

Most Women’s T20I Runs In A Calendar Year

Mandhana has had an exceptional year with the bat in all formats and is likely to be a top contender for the Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award. In the current series, she scored a half-century in each of the three matches, accumulating 193 runs at an average of 64.33.

In the ODI format, Mandhana scored four centuries, the highest by any female cricketer in a single year. She also registered a century against South Africa in India’s only Test match of 2024. Altogether, she has accumulated 599 runs in 10 ODIs in 2024, with an average of 59.90.