Watch: Smriti Mandhana makes history, shatters Mithali Raj’s ODI century record for India

India Women's National Cricket Team batter Smriti Mandhana scripted history in the Women's cricket. She became the India batter with the most centuries in the Women's ODIs, surpassing former team skipper Mithali Raj in the elite list.

Smriti Mandhana achieved the feat in the third ODI against the New Zealand Women's National Cricket Team. The series decider between the teams took place on Thursday (29th October) at the Narendra Modi International Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Smriti Mandhana oozed her class with the bat in the all-important clash

Smriti Mandhana oozed her class with the bat in the all-important clash. The opening batter stood tall for her team when they needed her the most as she played a stellar innings for the team and made sure that she helped her team chase the big target as well as win the series by the margin of 2-1.

Smriti Mandhana opened the innings and was at her fluent best. She played gorgeous shots in her innings and made sure that she batted till the very end to take her team home. She notched up her 8th ODI century and scripted history in Women's cricket.

Mithali Raj, who had slammed 7 centuries in her career, is now the batter with the second most tons in the WODIs. Mandhana achieved the feat in the 122 balls and put her team in the winning position in the last game of the series.

Smriti Mandhana becomes the Indian player with the most tons in WODIs

Here's the video:

That HUNDRED Feeling 💯🤗

Live - https://t.co/pSVaIW4Deg#INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @mandhana_smriti pic.twitter.com/61zSBcOQ2H

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) October 29, 2024

Mandhana ended with the innings of 100 runs off 122 balls. She had a strike rate of over 81 and also slammed 10 fours in her innings. She was well supported by Yastika first, who made 35, and then by her skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.

The India captain made an unbeaten 59 runs and, along with Mandhana, shared a 117-run stand. Based on their partnership, India Women's National Cricket Team chased the target with 6 wickets in hand and also won the series by the margin of 2-1.

Happy I could get a score today - Smriti Mandhana

Smriti Mandhana, who won Player of the Match, talked about her performance with the bat, saying that they had a tough last few months. She said that she was delighted with the way the team batted and while talking about the same, she explained:

"Really pleased to get the series win. As I said in the first game, it has been a tough 1 and a half months for this team. The first two games didn’t go my way so really happy I could get a score today. It was more about controlling my shots, you don’t bat the same way everyday. You’re in the best frame some days and you’re not other days.

"Had to be a little hard on myself early on and wait for the first 10 overs to go before taking the game on. For me what works is the harder way. Need to do it for the team first. Getting out early means I’ve let the team down and that thought doesn’t let me sleep well. As a cricketer you are going to get highs and lows, you need to keep the routine the same," she concluded.