Smriti Mandhana sets records with back-to-back centuries in ODI series against South Africa

Smriti Mandhana creates history, scores back-to-back centuries

India's women's cricket team opener Smriti Mandhana achieved two remarkable records during the second ODI against South Africa at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Mandhana scored an impressive 136 runs off 120 balls, helping India aim to seal the series after winning the opener by 143 runs. In the first match, she had scored 117 off 127 balls, contributing significantly to India's total of 265 for eight.

Mandhana's performance marked her as the first Indian woman cricketer to score consecutive centuries in ODIs, and the second overall after Sandhya Agarwal in 1986. This innings also equalled Mithali Raj's record for most centuries by an Indian woman in ODIs, both holding seven centuries. She is now joint third among openers with the most centuries, behind New Zealand's Suzie Bates and England's Tammy Beaumont and Charlotte Edwards.

Her 136 runs in this match surpassed her previous best of 135 against South Africa in 2018, making it the fourth-highest individual score by an Indian batter in women's ODIs and the third-highest by an opener.

The series is part of the 2022–2025 ICC Women's Championship, a one-day competition among 10 teams to determine qualification for the 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup. India has already qualified as the host nation, while Australia are the defending champions. The final ODI against South Africa will be held on June 23 in Bengaluru, followed by a one-off Test in Chennai and a three-match T20I series.