'I'm sure ICC will have budget for another trophy': Mandhana's classy gesture for Harmanpreet after WC match wins hearts
Mandhana and Harmanpreet combined to stitch a phenomenal 184-run partnership to not just revive the innings but help the team post a mighty total of 317 for eight.
Indian batters Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur's respective centuries on Saturday against West Indies helped India script a massive win in their third Women's World Cup match in New Zealand and go top of the table. Following the match, Mandhana's classy gesture towards her teammate after winning the Player of the Match award won hearts.
After a jittery start to the match where India lost three quick wickets to be reduced to 78 for three in the 14th over, Mandhana and Harmanpreet combined to stitch a phenomenal 184-run partnership to not just revive the innings but help the team post a mighty total of 317 for eight. The partnership is the highest fourth-wicket stand by any team in Women's World Cup history and the also the highest for India in the tournament for any wicket.
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Mandhana scored 123 runs off 119 deliveries, comprising 13 boundaries and 2 sixes, which is the second-highest score by an Indian batter in a Women's World Cup match, after Harmanpreet's incredible 171 against Australia in the 2017 edition of the tournament. Mandhana's efforts won her the Player of the Match award, but she decided to share the award with Harmanpreet.
" I think we both contributed equally for us to score 300. It is good to share the trophy. As a batter we prefer both, if the toss does not go your way, in chasing it is very important to get the momentum. I'm sure the ICC will be giving another trophy, they have enough budget," she said.
India now stand top of the Women's World Cup 2022 points table with two wins in three games. They had earlier beaten Pakistan in their tournament opener, recording their 11th straight win in ODIs against the arch-rivals.
India will next face defending champions England, who lost both their first two matches, on March 16 at the Bay Oval.
"Could not have asked anything better than today's display. Today's win should keep us in the tournament for the knockouts. Batting and bowling really came out well. It had a lot to do with the couple of games, could see the nerves in the girls. Everyone knew the importance of today's game. Required a special effort, we knew West Indies came from 2 wins, we were playing after a big loss," said captain Mithali Raj after the win.