Twitter erupts as Smriti Mandhana scores a magnificent century against South Africa

While Indian Men’s team is rocking in the ongoing ODI series against South Africa, the Women’s team led by Mithali Raj is also not behind. They thrashed the home side in the first of the three-match ODI series by 88 runs. The second ODI is currently in progress and Smriti Mandhana has struck a magnificent century to back up her 84-run knock in the opening game. However, Twitterati is following the game closely despite it not being telecasted and flooded in their tweets praising the left-handed opener.

South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first with an aim to level the series. The opening duo of India Women Smriti and Punam Raut started off cautiously once again and added 56 runs for the first wicket. Mandhana looked confident in her strides as she was coming off a big score in the first game of the series. She just continued in the same vein even after her partner was dismissed in the 13th over.

Mandhana torments Proteas

Smriti Mandhana built her innings perfectly after the end of the powerplay and rotated the strike even as her skipper Mithali Raj endured a rare failure. She was then joined by Harmanpreet Kaur who played a perfect supporting role to her. Smriti, meanwhile, also notched up her second consecutive half-century of the series and looked hungry for more runs. There were no shortcomings in her technique and pounced on the loose deliveries offered by the opposition bowlers.

Eventually, she brought up the third century of her ODI career in the 40th over by scoring a couple of runs off Marizane Kapp’s bowling. Also, she became the only Woman Cricketer in the world to score centuries in Australia, England and South Africa. She opened up her arms after reaching the milestone and began smashing the ball all over the park. Smriti even scored 28 runs off Ayabonga Khaka in which she pummelled the bowler for four boundaries and a six.

She was dismissed in the 44th over by Raisibe Ntozakhe in the end for a stellar knock of 135 runs off just 129 deliveries with as many as 14 fours and a solitary six. India Women, banking on her century, posted a hefty total of 302 runs for the loss of three wickets as Kaur and Veda Krishnamurthy piled on the agony for the hosts.

Twitter was delighted to get the news of Mandhana’s century and hailed her for her impeccable knock. They also rued the fact that the match wasn’t shown live and has already thrashed the broadcasters and the BCCI for the same after India won the first ODI.

Here’s how they reacted:

Smriti just wants to keep it simple. Be consistent. 84 followed by ? today. Well played @mandhana_smriti Keep it going ?? @BCCIWomen

— Mayanti Langer Binny (@MayantiLanger_B) February 7, 2018

SMRITI MANDHANA:

A hundred in Australia ✅
A hundred in England ✅
A hundred in South Africa ✅

She is now the first Indian Women to score hundreds in three away countries. #SAWvINDW

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) February 7, 2018

Life is tough for Indian women cricket fans. With no television coverage of the ongoing #INDWvSAW ODI series available, one has to constantly keep checking Twitter and cricket websites for updates. Really wanted to see @mandhana_smriti bat

— Shalini Gupta (@shalini8282) February 7, 2018

.@mandhana_smriti had never played against South Africa in South Africa till three days ago.

Now she has played twice and has registered the top two scores for India Women against South Africa in South Africa.#INDWvSAW #SAWvINDW

— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) February 7, 2018

So, #SmritiMandhana hit a 100 and #Vedakrishnamurthy is going hammer and tongs at SA bowlers. Theres no where to even catch a glimpse of this action. So terribly disappointing. I pity agency reporters who make match reports based on #twitter updates. Only source

— neeru bhatia (@neerubhatia3) February 7, 2018

Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Veda Krishnamurthy are putting on a show against South Africa. What does the BCCI give us by way of coverage? Zip. If this was India men playing Timbuctoo, we'd have had hype and wall to wall coverage and.. oh well.

— Prem Panicker (@prempanicker) February 7, 2018

.@mandhana_smriti played a top innings today.
Well, it must have been magnificent, but @BCCI (@BCCIWomen) never bothered to telecast.
Women's cricket in India. Sigh.#INDWvSAW #SAWvINDW

— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) February 7, 2018

.@mandhana_smriti scores her first century in South Africa. #SAWvINDW pic.twitter.com/U905o7gQhB

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) February 7, 2018

Smriti Mandhana becomes the 1st Indian women to score hundreds in three away countries (Australia, England and South Africa). WOW!#SAWvINDW #SAvIND

— FoMA Ramteke (@fomaramteke) February 7, 2018

3rd century for Smriti Mandhana, All 3 Away from Home, second Most by an Indian Woman after Mithali Raj 6

First in Australia
Second in England
Third in South Africa#SAWvINDW pic.twitter.com/FctA2gr7xi

— Abhijeet (@TheYorkerBall) February 7, 2018

Smriti Mandhana is 43rd over :

4, 6, 4, 5wd, 4, 4

Love have different forms & one of them is Mandhana. ? #SAWvINDW #SAvIND

— CricCrazy DV ??? (@deepakv712) February 7, 2018

Smriti Mandhana brings up her 3rd ODI ton.All 3 outside India with 1 each coming in Australia,England & now in SA.#SAWvINDW

— Abhay Chaudhary (@ImAbhay3) February 7, 2018

135 off 129 balls with 14*4 and 1*6.
A superb knock comes to an end.
Well played Smriti Mandhana.

— Wrist Spinners Fan ? (@cricdrugs) February 7, 2018

#SAvIND@mandhana_smriti hits her 3rd ODI century in her 34th innings.

Her centuries:
102 vs Australia, Hobart (AUS)
106* vs West Indies, Taunton (ENG)
100* vs South Africa, Kimberley (RSA) pic.twitter.com/nobWcN7673

— Women's CricZone (@WomensCricZone) February 7, 2018

Congratulations to @mandhana_smriti, who became the first Indian Women's batter to score an ODI hundred against South Africa Women.

Prior to today's ODI, the Indian Women's team had played against the South African Women's team in 16 ODIs! #SAvIND #SAWvINDW @BCCIWomen

— Arun Gopalakrishnan (@statanalyst) February 7, 2018

This is what you truly call 'tearing the bowling apart' – take a bow @mandhana_smriti – keep going! #champion #Fighter pic.twitter.com/VxUa0CzDCG

— gauravkheterpal (@gauravkheterpal) February 7, 2018