**Mandhana reached 1000 T20I runs and became the second-fastest Indian after Mithali Raj in women's cricket to get there

Opinion
       18/11/2018
                1549.

*Smriti Mandhana becomes second-fastest Indian woman to reach 1000 T20I  :  IndiaToday

**Mandhana reached 1000 T20I runs and became the second-fastest Indian after Mithali Raj in women's cricket to get there.

 Mandhana smashed a career-best 83 to power India to a record 167/8 against Australia in their last ICC Women's World T20 group B match in Guyana on Saturday.

It was her first T20I fifty of the year, and reached the 50-run mark in just 31 balls. In the process, she became the fastest to reach the mark, beating her skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's record (who had got to fifty in 33 balls).

Mandhana blasted 9 fours and 3 sixes in her 55-ball 83-run innings to anchor the Indian innings. She also became the second fastest India to compete 1000 runs in T20 internationals after Mithali Raj during her innings.

Harmanpreet too produced a strokeful 27-ball 43 studded with three sixes and as many fours to share a 68-run partnership for the third wicket with Mandhana.

After the end of the Indian innings, Mandhana said that she was disappointed in the way she was getting out.

"First few matches I was disappointed with the way I was getting out," said Mandhana.

"This time I didn't want to let the team struggle by getting out after being settled. I always enjoy batting with her [Harmanpreet]. Left-right is always a deadly combination as the bowlers lose their lines. Against a good side, we need to come out well. That's not on our mind as we always come out with the intention of doing well," she added.

India, however, lost a bit of ground in the end following the quick wickets of Veda Krishnamurthy and Dayalan Hemalatha within a space of four balls.

Mandhana gave India a good start after her fellow opening batsman Taniya Bhatia (2) was dismissed in the second over, being caught by Meg Lanning at midwicket off Ashleigh Gardner's ball.

Mandhana then stepped up and picked up a boundary each in the next two overs to keep the score ticking.

She blasted a four and a six off Sophie Molineux in the 5th over before repeating the treatment to Megan Schutt in the next over to accumulate big runs.

Australia India pegged back in the 7th over when Delissa Kimmince dismissed Jemimah Rodrigues (6), who had scored 59 against New Zealand in the opening match. It was an outside edge that was brilliantly caught by Elyse Villani at short third man.

Skipper Harmanpreet then came out to bat at No. 4 even as Mandhana smashed another one straight down the ground for another boundary.

Harmanpreet too joined in as she charged down the pitch and smashed Molineux over midwicket for her first six.

A beautiful-looking sweep shot then helped Mandhana to complete her fifty in 31 balls.

Harmanpreet then hoisted one over extra cover off Gardner to pick up her second six as India reached 83 for 2 in 10 overs.

The Indian skipper continued to find boundaries, making life difficult for the Australian bowlers.

In the 14th over, Harmanpreet slapped one over extra cover before depositing a full toss by Kimmince over short fine leg.

However an attempt to go for another big shot proved fatal as she was caught by Haynes to leave India at 117 for 3 in 13.3 overs.

In the next over, Mandhana too was on her way back to the hut when she was adjudged LBW by the on-field umpire but she survived after a video referral showed the ball pitched outside leg.

However, India lost the wicket of Krishnamurthy (3) on the other end when debutant Vlaeminck pulled off a stunning catch at square leg off Gardner's bowling.

Hemalatha (1) too dragged one on to the stumps as India slumped to 136 for 5 in 16.2 overs.

In the 18th over, Mandhana hit a six and a four off Kimmince as India amassed 17 runs but Schutt removed the opener in the next over.

There was also an unfortunate collision between Megan Schutt and wicket-keeper Alyssa Healy as both went for a catch, following a miscued hit by Reddy. Healy then left the field as Beth Mooney took over her duties.

OPINION :

1. PM MODI JI DREAM ( OUR'S TOO ) COMES TRUE " BETI BACHAO, BETI PADHAO";

2. WOMEN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE ENCOURAGING TO YOUNG GIRLS TOO;

3. FROM HOME( KITCHEN ) TO  THE CENTRE STAGE IN EVERY SECTOR, HEARTENING;

4. EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN MAKE A FAMILY STRONGER, AND CHILDREN WILL BE HIGHLY BENEFITED;

5. WOMEN USE THE PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES ENCOURAGED BY PM MODI JI GOVERNMENT, TO CREATE FUTURE GENERATION WITH CHARACTER AND VALUES;

LAST WORD :

1. BHARATHAM DO NOT NEED WOMEN LIKE SONIA, BRINDA KARAT, MAMATA, MAYAWATI, KANIMOZHI, NALINI CHIDAMBARAM, ARUNDHATI ROY, TRUPTI DESAI AND SO ON .......

2. BHARATHAM NEED : SITA, AHALYA, DRAUPADI, SATHI SAVITRI, KUNTI DEVI, LOPAMUDRA, MAITREYI ... AND SO ON

3. WOMEN HAVE VERY DIFFICULT ROLE, YET THEY PERFORM WONDERFULLY WITH EASE, SHE IS A COMBINED AVATHARAM OF DURGA+LAKSHMI+SARASWATI, A COMPLETE PHENOMENON;

4. MEN MUST AWARE THAT THEY ARE  ARDHANARI-S, THEIR  LEFT PART -THE SEAT OF THEIR WOMEN;

5. WOMEN UNDERSTOOD THIS TRUTH THAN MEN, SO THE REALISATION OF WOMEN PROGRESS VISIBLE NOW.

JAIHIND
VANDE MATARAM