Consistency Personified: Smriti Mandhana Scores Third Century Against SA In 12 Days

Indian cricket fans were thrilled on June 28 as Smriti Mandhana scored a century in the one-off Test against South Africa at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. This achievement came just hours after Rohit Sharma's team secured a spot in the T20 World Cup 2024 final with a 68-run victory over England.

Mandhana's century, achieved in just 122 balls with 19 fours, is her second in Test cricket and her first on Indian soil. This milestone highlights her growing consistency and skill in the longer format of the game.

In September 2021, Mandhana scored her maiden Test century against Australia. Fast forward to June 2024, she has now added another feather to her cap by scoring her first Test century at home.

Her recent form has been exceptional. In the ODI series against South Africa earlier this month, she scored two consecutive centuries on June 16 and June 19. On June 28, she continued this streak by scoring 149 off 161 deliveries in the Test match.

Reflecting on her journey, Mandhana expressed frustration over missed opportunities in past ODIs. "I was really mad with myself in the last 4-5 years. Whenever I played at home in ODIs, I ended up scoring 70-80 (runs) and throwing away my wicket," she admitted after the first ODI.

Mandhana's performances in the recent ODI series were nothing short of spectacular. She scored 117 runs in the first ODI, followed by 136 in the second, and narrowly missed a third consecutive century with a score of 90 in the third match. Her efforts helped India secure a series whitewash.

Despite missing out on a third consecutive century, Mandhana remained positive. "Unfortunate to miss the hundred today. I was batting much better than I did in the first two matches. I am really happy we won the series 3-0," she said after the third ODI.

Mandhana's century against South Africa is a testament to her dedication and resilience. It underscores her ability to adapt and excel across different formats and conditions. As she continues to build on her impressive career, fans eagerly anticipate more stellar performances from this extraordinary cricketer.