Smriti Mandhana Breaks Records Against New Zealand Legend with Historic Half-Century Performance
On October 23, 2023, the Indian women’s cricket team played against New Zealand in a crucial match of the Women’s World Cup. This contest was pivotal for both teams, as the winner would secure a spot in the semi-finals. The Indian team, batting first, was off to a solid start with an opening partnership that laid the foundation for their innings.
Smriti Mandhana’s Record-Breaking Performance
During the match, Indian opener Smriti Mandhana made headlines with her exceptional performance. She scored an unbeaten 25 runs, leading her to surpass New Zealand’s Suzie Bates to become the highest run-scorer in Women’s One Day Internationals (ODIs) among openers. Mandhana achieved this milestone in just 113 innings, reaching a total of 5,090 runs.
Key Statistics
- Smriti Mandhana: 5,090 runs in 113 innings
- Suzie Bates: 5,089 runs in 133 innings
- Laura Wolvaardt: 4,921 runs in 115 innings
Mandhana’s achievement came 20 innings quicker than Bates, showcasing her remarkable consistency and skill as an opener.
Performance in the World Cup
In the ongoing World Cup, Mandhana has been in excellent form. She has scored a total of 248 runs in six innings, averaging 49.60. Among her performances, she has recorded two half-centuries. However, she has yet to convert these starts into a century during this tournament.
In a previous match against England, Mandhana scored 80 runs but was unable to secure her team’s victory, ending the match on a disappointing note for India.
Match Situation against New Zealand
As the match progressed against New Zealand, India was positioned well at 71 runs without losing any wickets after 14.1 overs, indicating a promising start for the team’s innings.
