New Delhi: Smriti Mandhana slammed her maiden T20I ton for India in the 1st T20I of the five-match series against England at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Saturday. Mandhana scored a blazing ton off just 51 balls to help India post a huge total of 210/5 on the board in 20 overs, batting first against the hosts in the series opener.
Mandhana got India off to a flyer after the visitors were asked to bat first in the game by England. The Indian skipper combined with her opening partner Shefali Verma (20) to share a 77-run stand for the first wicket, before adding another crucial stand for the second wicket with Harleen Deol, who scored a quickfire 43 off 23 balls.
Mandhana raced to his fifty off just 27 balls, before completing her hundred off 51 balls with a boundary against pacer Ian Bell in the 16th over of India’s innings. The elegant left-hander looked in flawless touch as she took the England bowlers to the cleaners en route to her maiden T20I ton. Mandhana finished with a brilliant 112-run knock off 62 balls, laced with 15 fours and three sixes.
More to follow…