Smriti Mandhana shatters Mithali Raj’s record as India win series against New Zealand

Smriti Mandhana broke former captain Mithali Raj’s all-time national record as she helped India defeat New Zealand in the third ODI and bag the series 2-1. 

Chasing a target of 233 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Mandhana led the charge from the front. She slammed her eighth ODI century and broke Mithali’s record for the most tons for India in the format. The former skipper had seven ODI tons to her name. 

Mandhana got to her century off 121 balls but fell off the immediate next legal ball she faced, getting cleaned by pacer Hannah Rowe. 

Harmanpreet Kaur hit a half-ton and went back unbeaten with Tejal Hasabnis as the hosts chased down the score in 44.2 overs with six wickets in hand.

India’s Playing XI:

Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur Singh, Saima Thakor, Priya Mishra

New Zealand’s Playing XI:

Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Lauren Down, Sophie Devine (c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk), Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas

More to follow…