India Women opener Smriti Mandhana produced a composed half-century in the first ODI of the three-match series against Australia at Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Tuesday, February 24.
After winning the toss, India opted to bat. Mandhana walked out to open alongside Pratika Rawal, but the visitors were jolted early when Pratika was dismissed for a duck off the second ball of the first over.
Mandhana anchors innings amid early setbacks
Despite the early blow, Mandhana settled in and continued with assurance. India’s top order soon came under further pressure. Shafali Verma managed just 4 runs from 17 balls before being dismissed by Darcie Brown, and Jemimah Rodrigues followed after scoring 8.
With wickets falling at regular intervals, Mandhana held one end firm and focused on rebuilding. During the middle phase of the innings, she shared a crucial 48-run stand with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, helping India regain stability.
Measured in her strokeplay, Mandhana rotated the strike effectively and capitalised on scoring opportunities. She compiled 58 runs from 68 deliveries, striking seven fours.
Her innings ended when Tahlia McGrath bowled a full-length delivery on leg stump. Attempting a sweep, Mandhana top-edged the ball, which was caught by the fielder running in from deep backward square. By then, she had laid a solid platform for her side.
Milestone against Australia
During the knock, Mandhana reached a notable landmark. She moved to second place on the list of players with the most 50-plus scores against Australia in Women’s ODIs.
Most 50+ scores vs Australia in Women’s ODIs:
- 14 – Debbie Hockley (New Zealand)
- 11 – Smriti Mandhana (India)
- 10 – Charlotte Edwards (England), Suzie Bates (New Zealand)
With this achievement, Mandhana surpassed prominent batters from England and New Zealand.
Form carries over from T20Is
Mandhana’s performance also reflects her consistency across formats. In the preceding three-match T20I series, she amassed 129 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 134.38.
At the time of writing, India were looking to post a competitive total. Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh were at the crease, with Harmanpreet on 32 and approaching her half-century. Richa joined her after Deepti Sharma was dismissed for 2.
