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Rediff.com  » Cricket » PICS: Dominant Mandhana hits century in pink-ball Test

PICS: Dominant Mandhana hits century in pink-ball Test

Last updated on: October 01, 2021 18:37 IST
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Smriti is just the fourth women's player, and first Indian woman, to score a ton in ODIs and Tests.

India's Smriti Mandhana celebrates her century on day two of the Women's International Test Match against Australia at Metricon Stadium in Gold Coast on Friday

IMAGE: India's Smriti Mandhana celebrates her century on Day 2 of the one-off women's Pink ball Test against Australia, at Metricon Stadium in Gold Coast, on Friday. Photograph: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Indian opener Smriti Mandhana continued her dominance over Australia on Friday, registering her maiden Test century on the second day of the Pink ball women's Test, at Metricon stadium in Gold Coast.

 

Smriti took the attack to the opposition in the opening session of Day 2 and reached the triple figure mark in the 52nd over of the innings after smashing two fours off Ellyse Perry.

She was clinical throughout as she punished anything too full or too short with a host of impressive drives and pulls.

Smriti Mandhana plays a shot through the off side 

IMAGE: Smriti Mandhana bats en route her century on Day 2. Photograph: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Following the Test ton, Smriti now has the highest individual score for India women in Australia in all three formats. The highest individual scores in Australia for Team India are: Tests: Smriti Mandhana (108*), ODIs: Smriti Mandhana (127), and T20Is: Smriti Mandhana (66).

She also became just the fourth women's player, and the first Indian woman, to score a century in ODIs and Tests.

Rain wiped out a significant part of the second day's play after Mandhana stole the limelight.

India were 276 for 5 in 101.5 overs when lightning forced the players indoors a little after the dinner break.

Deepti Sharma was batting on 12 and Taniya Bhatia was yet to open her account as the players walked off the field and covers were brought on.

Over 108 overs will be bowled on each of the last two days of the match.

India lost two wickets in the second session, including that of skipper Mithali Raj for 30 and debutant Yastika Bhatia for 19.

Mithali, who was looking good for a big one, was run-out after playing a few lovely shots.

Mandhana scored 127 off 216 balls, with the help of 22 boundaries and a six, and added an Indian record of 102 runs in Australia for the second wicket with Punam Raut (36), continuing the good work after putting on 93 with Shafali Verma on a rain-marred opening day, which ended with India on 132-1, and Mandhana and Punam Raut unbeaten on 80 and 16 respectively.

She brought up her century with a short-arm pull shot off Ellysse Perry in the 52nd over.

Mandhana wouldn't have added to her overnight score of 80 had Perry not overstepped in the second over of Day 2. Replays showed that the catch too might have been debatable.

The India opener, however, overcame the early jitters and went about her business in a professional manner while playing some lovely shots, including a magnificent straight drive off Annabel Sutherland.

She looked set for more but was caught at short mid-off off the bowling Ash Gardner, after playing an uppish drive.

 

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