Smriti Mandhana produced one of the finest innings of the Women’s Hundred 2026 as Manchester Super Giants defeated Sunrisers Leeds by four wickets in a thrilling contest.
Chasing 143, the India opener remained unbeaten on 88 from just 50 deliveries, striking at 176 and anchoring the chase almost single-handedly. Her match-winning knock came after she had managed only 17 runs in the tournament opener, while Manchester’s previous fixture had been washed out by rain.
With expectations high, Mandhana responded in style to steer her side home with four balls remaining.
Mandhana Recovers After Cautious Start
Manchester made a solid beginning, putting on 41 runs for the opening wicket before captain Meg Lanning departed after scoring 24. Mandhana started carefully, particularly against fellow India international Deepti Sharma.
Sunrisers captain Dani Gibson introduced Deepti early into the attack, and the off-spinner immediately applied pressure by bowling four consecutive dot balls to Mandhana.
The left-hander soon found her rhythm, though, taking on Kate Cross with a boundary followed by a six in successive deliveries.
From that point onward, she controlled the chase while rotating the strike effectively and punishing loose deliveries.
Wickets Fall but Mandhana Holds Firm
Just as Manchester looked comfortable, the innings suffered a dramatic collapse. The visitors slipped from 61 for 1 to 68 for 4, losing Paige Scholfield, Richa Ghosh and Maitlan Brown for only seven runs.
Brown’s dismissal came via a painful mix-up with Mandhana.
After initially setting off for a run, Mandhana sent her partner back too late, resulting in Brown being run out. The opener was visibly frustrated with the mistake.
The following delivery almost brought Mandhana’s own dismissal as she chipped a catch towards deep midwicket.
Phoebe Litchfield, however, put down the straightforward chance, giving the opener a crucial reprieve.
Mandhana capitalised immediately, reaching her half-century from just 33 balls.
There was little celebration as she remained fully focused, with Manchester still requiring 50 runs from the final 28 deliveries.
Calm Partnership Turns the Match
Grace Scrivens offered brief support before departing, leaving Kathryn Bryce to join Mandhana in the closing stages.
The pair managed the chase intelligently, rotating the strike well and turning singles into twos whenever possible. Their partnership steadily reduced the target until Manchester required only 16 runs from the final 10 balls.
Mandhana then shifted into another gear.
She launched Deepti Sharma for a crucial six before surviving another opportunity when Darcey Carter dropped a catch off Jess Jonassen. The ball also cleared the boundary, giving Mandhana six more valuable runs.
The left-hander followed with another maximum to leave just two runs required.
She fittingly completed the chase with a towering six off Annabel Sutherland, sealing victory with four deliveries remaining.
Player of the Match Shows Leadership
Mandhana’s unbeaten 88 combined elegant stroke play, intelligent shot selection and remarkable composure under pressure. She was named Player of the Match, but it was her honesty after the game that attracted equal praise.
Rather than focusing solely on her own innings, Mandhana accepted responsibility for Maitlan Brown’s run-out.
“Feels great to win the match. Got a little lucky with the dropped chance, but glad I could do the job for the team. Really disappointed with the first run-out – that was my mistake.”
She also acknowledged Kathryn Bryce’s important contribution during the closing stages of the chase.
“Bryce, she was really cool, with important runs at the end.”
A Captain’s Knock in Every Sense
Mandhana’s innings was far more than a collection of boundaries and sixes. It showcased her ability to absorb pressure, rebuild an innings after a collapse and finish a difficult chase with authority.
Her footwork against both pace and spin, combined with her calculated aggression, allowed Manchester Super Giants to recover from a precarious position and secure an important victory.
Equally significant was the accountability she displayed after the match, openly accepting responsibility for the run-out while praising her teammates.
It was an innings that reflected not only Mandhana’s batting quality but also the leadership and humility that continue to make her one of the most influential players in women’s cricket.
