Indian women's cricket team opener Smriti Mandhana on Tuesday scored a blistering half-century as she recorded a nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the second ODI to level the five-match series at 1-1.
The left-handed batsman also became the first-ever cricketer to knock 10 consecutive scores of 50 or more in ODIs during the run chases, exceeding New Zealand's Suzie Bates. New Zealand’s cricketer had nine consecutive scores of 50 and more in run chases between 2015 and 2017.
By far no other male or female cricketer has scored more than six 50-plus scores in a continuous ODI run.
Mandhana hit 80 runs off 64 balls, by scoring 10 fours and three sixes. She completed the match by beating Nadine de Klerk for two consecutive boundaries in the 29th over.
At number three, Punam Raut was slow in the beginning and could only score six runs off her first 30 balls. But, she soon took charge and finished on 62 not out of 89 balls.
Mithali Raj asked South Africa to bat after winning the toss and the bowlers showed an excellent show by taking two wickets in just the first five overs, with veteran Jhulan Goswami and Mansi Joshi getting clear of the two openers.
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South Africa skipper Sune Luus and Lara Goodall kept Indian bowlers at bay, adding 60 runs for the third wicket. Lulus’s wicket was caught by Mansi Joshi behind stumps on 36 to break the partnership. Goodall was cleaned up by India vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur with the batsman just one short of away from her fifty.
After two quick wickets, South Africa's batting broke and they folded for a trifling number of 157 in 41 overs.
With the series level at 1-1, the third ODI will be played on March 12 in Lucknow