In a spectacular display of batting brilliance, India’s Smriti Mandhana smashed a record-breaking 50-ball century against Australia in the third ODI at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. With this explosive knock, Mandhana became the fastest Indian batter- male or female- to reach 100 in One Day Internationals, surpassing Virat Kohli’s previous record.
Chasing a daunting target of 413 runs, Mandhana unleashed a flurry of boundaries, hitting 17 fours and 5 sixes in her 63-ball innings. She completed her century with a towering six over midwicket, leaving fans and commentators in awe. Virat Kohli’s previous fastest Indian ODI century record stood at 52 balls, which Mandhana now bettered with her remarkable performance.
Mandhana’s 50-ball century is also the second-fastest in women’s ODI history, only behind Australia’s Meg Lanning, who scored a 45-ball hundred against New Zealand in 2012. This century marks Mandhana’s 13th in ODIs and highlights her growing dominance in international cricket.
However, despite Mandhana’s heroics, India fell short in their chase, posting 369 runs in response to Australia’s 412/6. Harmanpreet Kaur supported with a quick 65 off 58 balls, but the Indian team ultimately lost by 43 runs, giving Australia a 2-1 series victory.
Smriti Mandhana’s record-breaking century is a testament to her incredible talent and consistency. Her achievement not only inspires young cricketers across India but also underscores the rise of Indian women’s cricket on the global stage.