Smriti Mandhana scored a gritty half-century on Day 2 of the Only Test between India Women and Australia Women on Friday, December 22 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The left-handed Mandhana scored 74 runs off 106 balls with the help of 12 fours in challenging conditions.
Mandhana was unbeaten on 43 at Stumps on Day 1, helping India score 98 for one after bowling the opposition out for 219 in 77.4 overs.
In the first session of Day 2, Mandhana notched up her half-century off 68 balls and looked good for a big score. But against the run of play, she got run out after a terrible mix-up with Richa Ghosh, who replaced an injured Shubha Satheesh in the Indian XI.
In the fourth ball of the 39th over, Mandhana dabbed one on to the off-side off Ash Gardner. Ghosh, on the other end, called for a single immediately. However, Mandhana was unsure and got off the blocks a little too late.
Mandhana’s bat was on the line when Kim Garth took the bails off at the non-striker’s end. She departed with India’s score at 147 for the loss of three wickets in 38.4 overs. Mandhana put on a partnership of 90 runs for the opening wicket with Shafali Verma to lay the platform for India.
Thereafter, she stitched together a stand of 50 runs for the second wicket with Sneh Rana, who came in as a nightwatchman.
Mandhana had a disappointing outing in the Test match against England at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai, where she got scores of 17 and 26. However, the knock she played against Alyssa Healy’s Australia should give her confidence.
