For Smriti Mandhana working at home was good

Over one week at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Smriti Mandhana had a remarkable performance that will be remembered as a turning point in her career. She scored a sensational 117, 136, and 90 in three ODIs against South Africa, solidifying herself as a standout player in the history of women's cricket.

Before this incredible week, Mandhana had never reached the milestone of scoring a century in an international match at her home ground. However, by the conclusion of the series on June 23, she had come incredibly close to achieving a hat-trick of centuries, falling just 10 runs short. With a total of 343 runs throughout the series, Mandhana set a new record for the highest aggregate runs in a three-match women's ODI series, surpassing the previous record held by Tammy Beaumont of England.

Mandhana's exceptional performance not only made her a hero among cricket fans but also solidified her position as one of the best players in the game today. Her name will forever be etched in the history books as a player who made an indelible mark on the sport.

Mandhana's first ODI century, scoring 117 broke her drought of home centuries. It was a gritty knock on a challenging two-paced wicket, where she steered India from a precarious position of 99/5 with support from Deepti Sharma. Despite cramping towards the end, she reached her century with a stylish six, marking her first international ton at home and setting the record for the highest score by an Indian batter in this format at home.

In the second ODI, Mandhana displayed a calculated approach, taking 17 balls to get off the mark. However, she then shifted gears alongside Harmanpreet Kaur, both scoring centuries and leading India to a formidable total of 325. This match highlighted her ability to adapt and execute a well-thought-out strategy against South Africa's bowling attack.

Mandhana's best knock of the series came in the third ODI, where she fell short of a century but scored an aggressive 90. From the onset, she attacked the South African bowlers, hitting three fours in one over and maintaining a high strike rate. Her dismissal came from a top-edged sweep shot, but the Chinnaswamy crowd and her teammates celebrated her brilliant performance.

Mandhana's 343-run series in Bengaluru showcased her class and consistency, setting a positive tone for India's upcoming challenges in T20 cricket and the home 50-over World Cup next year.

Most runs recorded in a three-match women’s ODI series:

343 Smriti Mandhana, IND vs SA, 2024 (home)342 Tammy Beaumont ENG vs PAK, 2016 (home)342 Amelia Kerr NZ v IRE, 2018 (away)335 Laura Wolvaardt SA v SL, 2024 (home)325 Hayley Matthews WI v PAK, 2024 (away)