Smriti Mandhana Equals ODI World Record with Blistering Hundred Against Australia
Smriti Mandhana smashed her 12th ODI century against Australia, equalling the world record for most tons by an opener in women’s ODIs. She hit 117 off 91 balls in New Chandigarh.
Smriti Mandhana produced a batting masterclass in New Chandigarh on Wednesday, hammering her 12th ODI century in the second game of the three-match series against Australia at the Mullanpur Cricket Stadium.
With this knock, the Indian vice-captain equalled the world record for most centuries by an opener in women’s ODIs, joining New Zealand’s Suzie Bates and England’s Tammy Beaumont.
The 28-year-old southpaw needed only 106 innings to reach the milestone, a far quicker feat compared to Bates (130 innings) and Beaumont (113 innings).
Mandhana’s hundred came off just 77 balls, the second-fastest by an Indian in ODIs. The fastest remains her own 70-ball ton against Ireland in Rajkot.
Her blazing effort also went down as the second-fastest century against Australia in women’s ODIs, just behind Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 79-ball effort at the 2022 World Cup in Hamilton.
Mandhana was eventually dismissed by Tahlia McGrath after a scintillating 117 off 91 deliveries, laced with 14 boundaries and four sixes.
Along the way, she put on a 70-run opening stand with debutant Pratika Rawal and later added 49 with Harleen Deol.
This knock continued a stunning run of form for Mandhana, who earlier this year became the first Indian woman to score centuries in all three formats after her maiden T20I ton.
She also set another unique record by becoming the first player to hit three or more ODI hundreds in two different calendar years, including four in 2024, the most ever in a single year.
With 12 centuries now, Mandhana sits third on the all-time women’s ODI list, behind Australia’s Meg Lanning (15) and Bates (13).
She also reclaimed the No.1 spot in the ICC ODI batting rankings earlier this year, further cementing her stature as one of the best in the world heading into the 2025 Women’s World Cup.
