Smriti Mandhana capped off her spectacular allround performance with a maiden T20 international century. Due to her influence, India crushed England by 97 runs on Trent Bridge. This victory marks England’s heaviest defeat in T20 cricket, showcasing India’s dominance in the series opener. Mandhana’s exceptional innings propelled India to a formidable total of 210 runs for the loss of five wickets on a pitch conducive to batting.
Mandhana’s hundred off 51 balls included a strike rate of 180 and fetched her the Player of the Match award. She scored 15 fours and hit three sixes in her innings. Her performance featured poise strokes along the carpet, deftly executed sweeps and muscular pull shots. She reached her three-figure mark impressively, welcoming Sophie Ecclestone back to international cricket by slog-sweeping the spinner’s first delivery for six.
In a contest that witnessed India’s second-highest T20I total, Mandhana made her mark known. She remained at the crease until there were only four balls remaining in the innings, finishing with a remarkable 112 runs off 62 deliveries.
Even more notable for Mandhana, this great achievement was a personal first. Beyond public accolades, this appointment was the recognition she truly deserved for her fierce commitment and work ethic. She expressed her joy in reaching this landmark early in the series, stating, “Me and one of my team-mates talked before the tour and said it was time I got a century. I’m happy it came in the first match.”
This win lifted the Indian team up after some tough losses, and Mandhana’s contributions were key to setting the tone for this runaway series. Her slam-filled batting rampage inspired the whole team. It further raised the stakes by providing a model for what the succeeding matches would be like.
Following their defeat, England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt acknowledged the challenge posed by India’s batting lineup. She remarked, “India are such a good side and when you give a few chances to one of the best batters in the world, it’s very difficult to stop.” Sciver-Brunt had previously pointed to the unpredictability of T20 cricket and how “little moments can shift the game. But as you know, T20 can turn in an instant, one catch taken and everything’s reversed.
India’s victory was further solidified by their strong bowling performance, which effectively restricted England’s scoring attempts and led to their record loss. Indian bowlers overlapped on each other’s plans beautifully, making sure England never had the chance to take the advantage.
She was awarded the Player of the Match for her pivotal performance, which highlighted her importance in this historic win. After the match, she reflected on the importance of maintaining their momentum moving forward: “It’s just the start. We need to keep this momentum going and get into good habits.”
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