India opener Smriti Mandhana added another milestone to her illustrious career by surpassing New Zealand’s Amy Satterthwaite to become the seventh-highest run-scorer in women's ODIs. Mandhana reached the milestone during the first ODI of the three-match series against Australia, played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.
Opening the innings, Mandhana delivered a composed and fluent 58 off 63 deliveries, laced with six boundaries and two sixes. Her knock, which came at a strike rate of 92.06, was instrumental in laying a solid foundation for India’s innings. With this performance, Mandhana now has 4,646 runs in 106 ODIs at an average of 46.46, including 11 centuries and 32 half-centuries. She surpassed Amy Satterthwaite’s tally of 4,639 runs, achieved in 145 innings.
| Player | Runs |
| Mithali Raj | 7805 |
| Charlotte Edwards | 5992 |
| Suzie Bates | 5896 |
| Sarah Taylor | 5873 |
| Belinda Clark | 4844 |
| Karen Rolton | 4814 |
| Smriti Mandhana | 4646 |
| Amy Satterthwaite | 4639 |
India post 281 runs in first innings
India’s innings began on a strong note with an impressive 114-run opening partnership between Mandhana and debutant Pratika Rawal. Rawal marked her debut with a gritty 64 off 96 balls, striking six boundaries. After the openers departed, the middle order contributed steadily, with Harleen Deol scoring a quick 54 off 57 balls. She shared a valuable 46-run stand with wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, who chipped in with a brisk 25 from 20 deliveries.
Despite a few late wickets, India managed to post a competitive 281/7 in their allotted 50 overs. For Australia, Megan Schutt was the standout bowler, taking 2 for 45 in her seven overs. Tahlia McGrath, Annabel Sutherland, and Alana King claimed a wicket each to keep India in check during the final overs.
This match also marked a significant occasion for Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who played her 150th ODI. However, she couldn’t make it count with the bat, falling cheaply for 11 off 9 balls. India will now look to defend the 282-run target and take a 1-0 lead in the series, which is being seen as a crucial preparatory step ahead of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup starting on September 30.
