Smriti Mandhana creates history, breaks Mithali Raj's 13-year-old record with first ODI century at home

India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, on Sunday (June 16), starred with the bat to power the team to a challenging total in the first of the three-match ODI series against South Africa.

India's decision to bat first at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru backfired initially as they were off to a disastrous start. The likes of Shafali Verma (7), Hemalatha (12), captain Harmanpreet Kaur (10), Jemimah Rodrigues (17), and Richa Ghosh (3) failed to get going with the bat as India found themselves reeling at 99 for 5 in the 22nd over.

However, Smriti Mandhana stood firm at one end and went on to score a stunning century to take India to 265 for 8 in the allotted 50 overs. She reached her half-century in 61 balls before scoring her sixth ODI century and first at home in 116 balls. She was eventually dismissed by Masabata Klaas in the 47th over.

Before departing, Smriti Mandhana scored 117 runs from 127 balls with the help of 12 fours and a six. The brilliant knock also helped her create history as she now holds the record for the highest score by an Indian woman in ODIs at home. The record was previously held by the legendary Mithali Raj for her 109-run knock against West Indies way back in 2011.

Smriti Mandhana delighted with first century at home:

Speaking at the end of India's innings, Smriti Mandhana expressed her delight over finally scoring her first ODI century at home. The opener also opened up on the batting surface where most of her teammates failed to get going, saying that although the pitch was two-paced, it was not a bad wicket to bat.

"I knew that I have never scored a century in India but it didn’t come to my mind when I was batting. Really happy that we have got to a good score. It was a little two-paced wicket, it was not a bad wicket to bat, one-odd ball was keeping low, another was taking off, it's not a bad wicket to bat on and that’s why I mentioned we need to go out and bowl well," said Smriti Mandhana.