Smriti Mandhana’s stellar performances led the Indian women’s cricket team to a commanding 3-0 clean sweep over South Africa in the recently concluded ODI series. India, hosting South Africa for a three-match ODI series, a one-off Test match, and a three-match T20 series, showcased dominant performances throughout the matches.
In the final ODI, South Africa set a target of 215 runs, losing eight wickets in their 50 overs. India’s star opener, Smriti Mandhana, played a pivotal role in the chase, narrowly missing out on a century by just 10 runs. Her 90-run innings off 83 balls, which included 11 boundaries, was instrumental in securing the series victory for India in the 3rd ODI clash.
Mandhana was backed by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who also contributed 42 runs off 48 deliveries, hitting two boundaries. Mandhana’s outstanding form throughout the series saw her scoring centuries in the first two ODIs, with innings of 117 and 136 runs, respectively.
Smriti Mandhana Reflects On Her Attacking Knock Against South Africa
At the post-match presentation, Mandhana expressed her disappointment at missing a third consecutive century but was pleased with her overall performance. “Unfortunate to miss out on a 100 today. Those kinds of shots (sweep) sometimes come off and you need to keep backing yourself. The bowlers bowled really well and for us, it is just about applying ourselves with the bat,” she said while receiving the Player of the Series award. Reflecting on her occasional bowling attempts, she added, “After today’s over, I don’t think I will get to bowl again. It is always good to add a different skill and if it comes off, then it is the best feeling.”
Harmanpreet Kaur praised her team’s performance and emphasized the importance of their preparation camps in Bangalore and Mumbai. “The last two camps we had gave us a lot of confidence. We will enjoy our win tonight, but there is a Test match and then a T20 series coming up, so we need to think about our plans for that as well,” she stated.
India will now gear up to face South Africa in the one-off Test match starting on June 28 at the M Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
