‘India ke liye bhi aisa khelo naa’ – Fans react as Smriti Mandhana hits back-to-back fifties in ‘The Hundred’

Smriti Mandhana scored back-to-back fifties in ‘The Women’s Hundred’ as her team Southern Brave lost the game by four runs to the ‘Welsh Fire.’ With the knock, Mandhana smashed quite a few records in the 100-ball tournament. Firstly, she reached her fifty in 33 balls and remained not out on 70 off 42 balls, including 11 fours. The southpaw scored back-to-back half-centuries in the tournament and looks to be in the form of her life.

In the process, Mandhana went past her Indian teammate Jemimah Rodrigues to set the record for most 50+ scores in ‘The Women’s Hundred’. She was level at four with Rodrigues following her half-century in the previous game. Daniel Wyatt, Mandhana’s teammate in the Brave also had four 50+ scores. However, she leaves behind both to become the batter with the most fifty-plus scores in The Women’s Hundred with five 50+ scores.

Smriti Mandhana became the first batter to surpass 500 runs in ‘The Women’s Hundred’

However, Mandhana’s fiery knock went in vain as the Southern Brave lost the match by four runs. With five runs required from the last ball, Mandhana failed to find the boundary off Hayley Matthews’ bowling. Matthews remained the star for the Fire with 65 off 38 balls, including 13 fours. She also scalped the key wicket of Chloe Tryon to be adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’ for her brilliant allround display.

As far as Smriti Mandhana is concerned, she has looked in fine form with two back-to-back half-centuries in two games in the tournament so far. She also became the first batter to surpass 500 runs in ‘The Women’s Hundred’ with her latest unbeaten 70-run knock. He is the highest scorer of the tournament in the ongoing edition with 125 runs at the average of 125 and a strike rate of 160.25. Her team Southern Brave, led by Anya Shrubsole, are currently placed third in the standings with two points from two games, courtesy of a win and a loss. They currently have a net run rate of 0.575.

Here’s how fans reacted:

https://twitter.com/82off52/status/1687503531652403200