Smriti Mandhana, India's opener, made history by becoming the country's second-highest run-scorer on Sunday. With her courageous hundred against South Africa, she surpassed the 7000-run milestone and joined former India great Mithali Raj on the select list. Mandhana scored 117 from 127 deliveries, bringing her total international score to 7,059 runs. Her global total is only surpassed by former captain Mithali, who scored 10,868 runs.
Harmanpreet Kaur, India's captain, is also on track to accomplish the milestone. She has 6,870 runs in all formats on the international circuit and could achieve that total in the current series against South Africa. The Indian vice-captain scored her sixth ODI ton, her first on home soil. She overtook skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's count of five, and her total is only surpassed by Mithali's seven.
Mithali took 211 innings to score seven hundreds, whereas Harmanpreet scored five centuries in 112 innings. In just 83 innings, Mandhana hit six hundreds. After electing to bat, India struggled to get the scoreboard rolling, but Mandhana maintained things in their favor by capitalizing on every available opportunity.
South Africa reduced India to 99/5, and Mandhana's counter-attacking knock helped the hosts out of a difficult situation. Mandhana and Deepti Sharma combined for a 50-run stand, keeping India's momentum continuing. Khaka then took her second wicket of the match, helping her team make a huge breakthrough by removing Deepti for 37.
Mandhana scored her sixth ODI century and first at home in the game's 43rd over.
Mandhana's magnificent knock of 117 runs came to an end as she attempted to draw her to the backward square leg boundary but was caught easily by Sune Luus. In the last over, India scored 12 runs, bringing their total to 265/8.
