New Delhi: The Indian women’s cricket team notched up two significant milestones in its third one-day international (ODI) against Ireland in Rajkot Wednesday—setting a national record for the highest ODI score by an Indian team, both men’s and women’s, and the fastest 100 by a woman batter in just 70 balls.
Stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal scored centuries as India crossed their previous high of 370 runs in the 42nd over – also scored against Ireland in the second ODI of the ongoing series. They went on to set a new record for the highest total, hitting 435 for five wickets.
This record-breaking effort was led by Mandhana’s high-octane 135 off 80 balls, the fastest century in the format for Indian women in 70 balls. This feat surpassed Harmanpreet Kaur’s previous record of an 87-ball ton against South Africa in Bengaluru last year.
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The Indian women’s team has now crossed the men’s highest ODI score – 418/5 against West Indies in Indore back in 2011. The men’s other big scores include 414/7 vs Sri Lanka, 413/5 vs Bermuda, and 410/4 vs Netherlands.
Mandhana also achieved another personal milestone, becoming the first Indian woman to score 10 centuries in ODIs. She joined an exclusive group of openers, including Australia’s Meg Lanning (15) and New Zealand’s Suzie Bates (13), who lead charts with double-digit centuries in women’s ODIs. Mandhana has tied with England’s Tammy Beaumont, who also has 10 centuries to her name.
Mandhana continued her exceptional form, scoring her first century of the year after registering 41 and 73 in the previous two ODIs. Since 2024, she has been in remarkable touch, smashing five centuries and four half centuries in 16 ODIs. Her impressive statistics include 996 runs at an average of 62.25, making her the highest-scoring batter in the world in this period.
Rawal hits maiden 100
Smriti Mandhana’s explosive innings was well supported by Pratika Rawal, who scored her maiden ODI century off 100 deliveries. The opening duo put on a record-breaking 233-run partnership in 26.4 overs, India’s third-highest opening tally in ODIs. This pair has now accumulated 701 runs in six innings, averaging at a solid 116.83.
“We just wanted to cross 400, and I’m happy that we touched 430, so I think it’s great stuff,” said Rawal in the post-innings interview.
Rawal has achieved a unique record, becoming the highest run scorer after her first six ODI games. In her first six matches, Rawal scored 444 runs, boasting an average of 74 and a strike rate of 95.68. Her key performances included three half centuries and one century, with the highest score of 154 she registered Wednesday.
The total was largely due to quick runs scored by the top order. Richa Ghosh kept the tempo going with a brisk 59 off 42 balls, striking at 140.48, while others contributed with valuable cameos.
In Women’s One-Day Internationals, only six instances have seen teams go over the 400-run mark. The breakdown is as follows: New Zealand has achieved this feat four times, Australia once, and India has now joined this elite group with Wednesday’s performance.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
Also read: Skipper Smriti Mandhana smashes fastest ODI century in Indian women’s cricket against Ireland