Did Smriti Finally Find Relief with a Century Against Australia in a Winning Match?

New Chandigarh, Sep 17 (NationPress) Following India's convincing victory over Australia by 102 runs, leveling the three-match ODI series at 1-1, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who scored a remarkable 117 runs off 91 balls, expressed her relief at achieving a century against Australia that finally contributed to a winning outcome.

At the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, India celebrated their first home ODI win against Australia since 2007, delivering the world champions their most significant defeat in this format. This victory sets the stage for the decisive match in New Delhi on Saturday.

Smriti's century came off just 77 balls, marking it as the second-fastest hundred by an Indian woman in ODIs and her third against Australia. "The last two hundreds I scored against Australia were in losing situations, so I'm thrilled we won today. Our game plan was straightforward — utilize the Power-play and build an innings, and strike if the ball was in my zone," she commented after receiving the Player of the Match accolade.

When asked about India aiming for a high score, Smriti remarked, "It varies with the conditions and the team we face. Knowing the Australian side, we need to target 280-290 to give our bowlers some buffer. The pitch was very flat, so I had to be aggressive. Throughout the World Cup, I aim to be aggressive, but my approach will depend on the conditions."

She also praised her opening partner, Pratika Rawal. "We complement each other effectively. She is calm and composed, as am I. We keep things simple, and it's working well; I hope it continues this way."

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur commended the team's discipline and execution, particularly from Smriti and the six bowling options. "We are pleased with our performance — we emphasized in our last team meeting to adhere to our strategies and repeat them consistently. Simplicity is key for us," she stated.

Despite some dropped catches, Harmanpreet credited the bowlers for generating continuous chances. "Today, we missed a few opportunities, but our bowlers kept providing us with chances to capitalize and maintain the favorable outcome."

"This series is about giving every player a chance. We've focused on experimenting with combinations, and we're happy with today's lineup. It's great that everyone took ownership and contributed," she added.

Australia's captain Alyssa Healy acknowledged her team's defeat. "It's good preparation for the World Cup. We know we can't win every match. India outperformed us in all aspects of the game, and we were likely outplayed. I believed we managed to hold them back, but they seemed poised for over 300."

She also commended India for their clever planning in bowling and fielding. "They bowled excellently with the new ball, and we didn't achieve the desired start. Their straight bowling with strategic fields and varied pace was impressive. These experiences are invaluable as we approach the critical World Cup matches."

Seam-bowling all-rounder Arundhati Reddy, who took a pivotal wicket and caught three balls, emphasized the team's preparation and energy in bouncing back with a win after their initial loss in the series. "It feels fantastic. We did extensive planning, and it's great that our bowling unit excelled. The batters reached 290 effectively. Today's performance was crucial, and we're pleased to have executed our roles well. The pitch was good for batting, and maintaining the tempo was essential. I wanted to deliver my best in this match and was thrilled to secure those important catches," she remarked.

Although India faced some fielding errors, Arundhati stated they are focused on capitalizing on opportunities. "We discussed this extensively. We aimed to enter with high energy. Acknowledging our lapses, we are determined to improve. We possess the potential to be an excellent fielding side. In critical moments, we managed to seize our chances today."