Smriti Mandhana Chasing History Against Australia in Women's World Cup!
As India prepares for a crucial semi-final clash against Australia in the ICC Women's World Cup, all eyes are glued to the dynamic opener, Smriti Mandhana. The pressure is on, as India seeks its first-ever ICC Women's trophy, requiring a victory against the formidable Australian side.
Mandhana boasts an impressive track record against the Aussies in ODIs, and the upcoming semi-final on October 30th presents a golden opportunity for her to join the legendary Mithali Raj in an elite group of Indian batters.
Mandhana's Impressive Stats Against Australia
Mandhana has already amassed a staggering 996 runs against Australia in WODIs. In their recent league stage encounter, she showcased her aggressive batting style with a blistering 80 off just 66 balls. Across 20 WODI matches against the Aussies, she maintains an impressive average of 49.80.
She's now just four runs shy of becoming only the second Indian batter, after Mithali Raj (1,123 runs), to reach the 1,000-run milestone against the 'Women in Yellow', according to ESPNcricinfo.
Dominating with Centuries
Mandhana's dominance extends beyond just accumulating runs. She boasts an incredible 10 scores of 50 or more against Australia, including four centuries. No other batter has scored more centuries against the Aussies in this format.
Notably, her recent 50-ball century against Australia in Delhi last month was the second-fastest in WODI history. She also holds the record for the second-fastest WODI century against the Aussies, smashing a 77-ball ton in Mullanpur last month. Both of these remarkable innings came in consecutive games!
Knockout Concerns: A Potential Hurdle?
Despite her phenomenal recent form, Mandhana's past performances in knockout matches might raise some concerns for the Indian team. While she excels in the league stages, she has struggled in the semi-finals and finals of World Cup matches across formats. Her scores in the 2017 WODI World Cup semi-final and final were 6 and 0, respectively.
Can Smriti Mandhana overcome this hurdle and lead India to victory? All eyes will be on her as she aims to rewrite history!