Did Smriti Mandhana Just Break a 26-Year-Old Record in ODIs?
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Synopsis
Smriti Mandhana has made history by breaking a 26-year-old record in women's ODI cricket during the Women's World Cup. Despite a slow start in the tournament, she is on the verge of achieving a remarkable feat—scoring 1000 runs in a calendar year. Can she reach this milestone?
Key Takeaways
- Smriti Mandhana has set a new record for runs scored in a calendar year in women's ODIs.
- She scored 973 runs in 17 innings this year.
- Mandhana surpassed the previous record held by Belinda Clark.
- She has five more matches to potentially reach 1000 runs in a year.
- Despite struggles in the World Cup, her overall performance has been stellar.
Visakhapatnam, Oct 9 (NationPress) Although she couldn't achieve another significant score in her third appearance at the ongoing Women's World Cup, India's Smriti Mandhana shattered a long-standing record that had stood for 26 years. During the match against South Africa on Thursday, she became the player with the highest runs in a calendar year in women's One-day International cricket.
In the match, Smriti accumulated 23 runs off 33 balls, featuring one four and one six. Just as it seemed she was poised for a substantial innings, the 29-year-old opener unfortunately hit a catch to Sune Luus at long-on.
However, her performance on Thursday boosted her annual total to 973 runs from 17 innings, marking the highest runs ever recorded by a batter in women's ODIs within one year.
Smriti has now surpassed the previous record held by Belinda Clark of Australia, who scored 970 runs back in 1997. Following them, South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt stands in third place with 882 runs from 2022.
Despite a mediocre performance in the World Cup thus far, Mandhana has enjoyed a remarkable year in ODIs. Preceding the World Cup, she amassed 928 runs in 14 innings, boasting an impressive average of 66.28 and a strike rate of 115.85. However, her form has dipped during the World Cup, where she has managed only 54 runs across three innings at an average of 18.00 and a strike rate of 72.97.
Nevertheless, she still has the opportunity to make history by becoming the first woman cricketer to score 1000 runs in a calendar year. With five league matches remaining, she has sufficient chances to achieve this remarkable milestone.
Point of View
I believe Smriti Mandhana's achievement not only highlights her exceptional talent but also underscores the growing prominence of women's cricket on the global stage. Her record serves as an inspiration for aspiring cricketers and emphasizes the need for continued support and recognition of women's sports.
NationPress
09/10/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Smriti Mandhana break?
Smriti Mandhana broke the record for the most runs scored in a calendar year in women's One-day Internationals, accumulating 973 runs.
How many runs did she score against South Africa?
She scored 23 runs off 33 balls against South Africa.
Who held the previous record?
The previous record was held by Belinda Clark of Australia, who scored 970 runs in 1997.
What is Smriti Mandhana’s goal for the year?
Her goal is to become the first woman cricketer to score 1000 runs in a calendar year.
How has her performance been in the World Cup?
Her performance in the World Cup has been below her usual standards, scoring only 54 runs in three innings.
