Mandhana Century Provides Win for India Against New Zealand

Smriti Mandhana’s brilliant century powered India to a six-wicket victory over New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, clinching the three-match ODI series 2-1. After scores of 5 and 0 in the first two ODIs, Mandhana found her form, scoring her fourth century of the year and the eighth of her ODI career. She reached her hundred off 121 balls, surpassing former captain Mithali Raj’s record for most ODI centuries by an Indian woman. 

Chasing 232 under lights, India lost Shafali Verma early but Mandhana and Yastika Bhatia steadied the innings with a 76-run stand. Bhatia scored 35 before departing, and Mandhana then combined with captain Harmanpreet Kaur for a 117-run partnership. Kaur’s unbeaten 59 off 63 balls kept the momentum strong, and her composed finishing shot secured the win with more than five overs to spare.

Earlier, New Zealand struggled after losing key players Suzie Bates, Lauren Down, and Sophie Devine at just 36 runs. Priya Mishra’s leg-spin and Deepti Sharma’s off-spin proved effective, with Sharma taking 3 for 39. Brooke Halliday top-scored for New Zealand with a resilient 86, while Lea Tahuhu’s quick 24* added some late runs. However, the Kiwi total of 232 proved insufficient against India’s determined chase.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 232 in 49.5 overs (Brooke Halliday 86; Deepti Sharma 3/39); India 236/4 in 44.2 overs (Smriti Mandhana 100, Harmanpreet Kaur 59*; Hannah Rowe 2/47).