India's star opener Smriti Mandhana continued her red-hot form against South Africa in the second ODI on Wednesday, notching her second consecutive ton to achieve a historic milestone. After smashing a superb 117 in the previous match, the highest score by an Indian woman at home, Mandhana took center stage with the bat once again in Bengaluru. Opting to bat first after losing the toss, she anchored the Indian innings and brought up her seventh ODI century, striking 12 fours and two sixes in her 103-ball knock.
By scoring back-to-back hundreds, the attacking left-hander became the first Indian woman to hit consecutive centuries in ODI cricket. She also drew level with veteran batter Mithali Raj in achieving the most tons for India in the format, highlighting her consistency at the highest level. Mandhana was well supported by partners Shafali Verma and Harmanpreet Kaur as she rotated the strike efficiently to push the score forward. Her batting masterclass not only guided India to a competitive total but also etched her name in the record books.
Internationally, Mandhana is the first Asian women's cricketer to compile successive centuries in ODIs. With seven scores of 100 or more, she currently ranks joint-fifth on the list of players with most hundreds as an opener. Undoubtedly one of the finest batters in the world, the 27-year-old star continues to inspire the next generation with her talent and temperament in challenging conditions. Her scintillating exploits over the past week have cemented her status as a match-winner for the Indian team.
