Indian batsman Smriti Mandhana achieved a great feat in the T20Is. She became the fourth Indian player to score 3000 runs in the shortest format of the game, joining the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Harmanpreet Kaur.
Smriti Mandhana achieved the feat in the first WT20I against Australia. The match took place at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. The first batsman played a magnificent innings and ensured that her team had a 1-0 lead in the series.
Smriti Mandhana was one of the main reasons why Indian women defeated the opposition by 9 wickets in the first game. Chasing 142 runs, the hosts made no mistake as Mandhana along with Shafali Verma did most of the scoring to win the game with 14 balls to spare.
Smriti Mandhana scored an astonishing half-century and finished with 54 runs off 52 balls. He batted with a strike rate of over 103 and also scored 7 fours and 1 six in his innings. She, along with Verma, added 137 runs for the opening partnership and almost sealed the game for her team.
During the innings, Smriti Mandhana became the sixth batsman to reach 3000 T20I runs. She joined the likes of Suzie Bates, Meg Lanning, Stefanie Taylor, Sophie Devine and Harmanpreet Kaur. The first batsman became the fastest Indian to achieve the feat.
Smriti Mandhana achieved the feat in her 122nd T20I innings, surpassing Harmanpreet Kaur, who did it in her 135th innings. Stefanie Taylor holds the record of being the fastest to score 3000 women’s T20I runs.
In the match between India and Australia, the hosts outperformed their rivals in all three departments. When asked to field first, the Indian women outscored their opponents by just 141 runs. Titas Sadhu was the pick of the bowlers as he bagged four wickets. In the chase, the Women in Blue won the match with 14 balls to spare.
Smriti Mandhana played the second fiddle role to perfection. He supported Verma well (64*) and the young batter played aggressively to take the game away from the opposition.
IND-W vs AUS-W: Smriti Mandhana becomes sixth leading run-getter in women’s cricket
Smriti Mandhana is the sixth leading run-getter in women’s cricket. New Zealand batsman Suzie Bates is the leading run-scorer with 4118 runs to her name in 152 games. She is followed by Australian batter Meg Lanning, who has 3405 runs in 132 matches.
West Indies batsman Stephanie Taylor and India captain Harmanpreet Kaur are also in the list with 3,236 and 3,195 runs to their names respectively. New Zealand batsman Sophie Devine is fifth in the list with 3,107 runs in 127 matches, while Smriti Mandhana is the latest to enter the list with more than 3,000 runs to her name.
Leaders in getting runs in women’s cricket
Suzie Bates (New Zealand) – 4118 runs in 152 matches
Meg Lanning (Australia) – 3405 runs in 132 matches
Stephanie Taylor (West Indies) – 3236 runs in 117 matches
Harmanpreet Kaur (India) – 3195 runs in 158 matches
Sophie Devine (New Zealand) – 3107 runs in 127 matches
Smriti Mandhana (India) – 3000* runs in 122 matches
