Guwahati: Indian women’s team opener Smriti Mandhana became the first Indian woman to score a pink-ball Test century in the ongoing day and night Test against Australia in Carrara on Friday.
Smriti achieved the feat on Day Two of the match, after the opening day was cut short due to rain.
India were comfortably placed at 132/1 at the close of play on Thursday, with Smriti batting on a sublime 80 and Punam Raut unbeaten on 16.
India were 101 for 1 at the dinner break, after which lightning delayed the start of play for a while.
The cricketing community took notice of this feat by Mandhana and hailed the batter for showcasing outstanding determination in tough Australian conditions.
Former cricketer Wasim Jaffer took to Twitter to term Mandhana as “The Goddess of the offside”. Jaffer congratulated her and wrote: “The Goddess of the offside. Congratulations on your maiden test hundred @mandhana_smriti. First of many. Well played #AUSvIND.”
The Goddess of the offside.
Congratulations on your maiden test hundred @mandhana_smriti. First of many. Well played 👏🏻 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/nS6am012nL— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) October 1, 2021
A simple celebration. That’s Smriti Mandhana scoring her maiden Test 💯 #AUSvIND #PinkBallTest. @mandhana_smriti @BCCIWomen
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) October 1, 2021
Test Century. First ever. Definitely first of many. Well played, Smriti Mandhana. Make it BIG 🥳😊 #PinkBallTest #AusvInd
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 1, 2021
Mandhana finally fell to Ashleigh Gardner after scoring a magnificent 127 off 216 balls with India placed at 195/2 in 68.1 overs.
