Team India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana bounced back strongly with a record-breaking innings of 80 off 66 balls, alongside a solid 155-run opening partnership with Pratik Rawal (75 off 96 balls). After a string of performances with scores of 8, 23, and 23 in the first three matches against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and South Africa, the southpaw turned her game around, showcasing her trademark timing and aggression.
With her 80-run knock, Smriti Mandhana shattered multiple ODI records, including the first woman player to amass 1000 runs in a calendar year, fastest and youngest to 5000 runs, and the first player to register five consecutive fifty-plus scores against Australia. Additionally, Mandhana was involved in the most number of 100+ opening partnerships for India in Women’s ODIs.