ICC Women’s World Cup 2022: India’s Smriti Mandhana rates ton vs West Indies among her top 3 knocks

Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur’s centuries guided India to a 155-run win over the West Indies in the ICC Women’s World Cup match on Saturday at Seddon Park, Hamilton. The former was the adjudged player of the match and decided to share the trophy with Kaur. 

Talking about her ton after the game, Mandhana said that she will rate the knock amongst her top three. She scored 119 runs off 123 balls and Kaur made 109 off 107. The two stitched a 184-run stand to power India to their highest World Cup score, 317 for eight.

Also read: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana’s centuries vs West Indies has fans elated

Mandhana praised fellow opener Yastika Bhatia for her 31-run knock after India lost three wickets in quick succession and were at 78/3. 

“The way Yastika started that gave me a lot of confidence and after we lost three wickets I had to put on a brake and really happy with the way Harry (Harmanpreet) played as well. We did not get a good start in the last game and we discussed about that and momentum is very crucial and that’s what Yastika did, taking on the bowlers from the start,” she said. 

Also read: Will Virat Kohli’s wait for elusive ton end at Chinnaswamy?

She added that the Harmanpreet Kaur was an equal contributor in the big total. 

” I think scoring a century and not being a Player of the Match is something I really wouldn’t want as a player. I think we both contributed equally for us to score 300. So, I think it’s good for us to share the trophy and I think both are good contenders to get it,” Mandhana said. 

India’s top-order woes were in focus when they faces West Indies. However, Mandhana believes the team learnt from their mistakes. 

Also read: Mithali Raj scripts history in Women’s World Cup against West Indies

“We learnt from our mistakes and that’s something we thought we are not gonna repeat it. As batters, we both prefer chasing and setting the target both together. Last game we didn’t get going and in chasing it’s very important to get the momentum. Our strengths are really different because she is really good with spin and I like pace on the ball. So when the spinner comes on I give her the strike and when the pacer comes on she gives me the strike,” she added. 

“I’m sure ICC will be giving another trophy and I’m sure they have enough budget to do that.”

For West Indies, Anisa Mohammed picked two wickets while Shakera Selman, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, and Aaliyah Alleyne took one apiece.