India women vs Sri Lanka women 1st T20I Match: Smriti Mandhana makes history by being the first Indian player to reach 4,000 runs in women’s Twenty20 internationals
India women vs Sri Lanka women 1st T20I Match: After a strong performance in the first Twenty20 International between the women of India and Sri Lanka at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, Smriti Mandhana made history by adding another feather to her already impressive crown.
Mandhana is the first Indian player to surpass the 4000-run mark in Twenty20 International cricket. The vice captain of India got a run-a-ball 25 in her return match thanks to four boundaries. After the legendary Suzie Bates of New Zealand, she is just the second overall to surpass the 4000-run milestone. In terms of balls taken, Mandhana, a left-handed hitter, is also the fastest, surpassing Bates’ record of 3675 by a significant margin with only 3227.
With 4007 runs, Mandhana leads India in the game’s shortest format, much ahead of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who was at 3654 when play began. After scoring 15 (12) in the first innings, Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu was next in line with 3473, followed by another Kiwi legend, Sophie Devine, with 3431 runs.
India’s Smriti Mandhana, 4007
India’s Harmanpreet Kaur, 3654
3473 Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)
New Zealander Sophie Devine, 3431
India’s first international cricket match since the Women in Blue defeated South Africa to win their first Women’s ODI World Cup last month is the current five-match Twenty20 International series. After chasing down the 122-run goal in 14.4 overs, India won the first Twenty20 International by 8 wickets to take a 1-0 series lead.
The hosts’ best run scorer was Jemimah Rodrigues, who maintained her outstanding batting form. On the strength of ten fours, the right-handed batsman scored an incredible unbeaten 69 runs in 44 balls, while captain Harmanpreet managed to stay undefeated with 15 runs in 16 deliveries.
The caravan will go to Thiruvananthapuram for the last three games of the series after Tuesday’s second game at the same location.