Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of Mumbai Indians (MI) women’s cricket team, produced an astounding innings as her side defeated Gujarat Giants (GG). At one point she scored 19 runs off 40 balls; on 48 balls she completed her second fifty.
Mithali Raj and she shared a record-setting 171-run partnership and she became India’s first woman to score a century away ODIs.
Harmanpreet Kaur | India 325 (Smriti Mandhana 136* & Harmanpreet Kaur 95) vs South Africa
Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana combined to score record-setting hundreds at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on an unfriendly pitch, propelling India to an imposing total of 325-3 on an inhospitable surface. Together they shared a record 171-run partnership that put India firmly in command; Mandhana hit 18 fours and two sixes during her 136-ball innings while Harmanpreet finished unbeaten with 95 from 88 balls — 9 fours and three sixes were hit during her unbeaten 88 ball innings!
South Africa were struggling at 67/3 in the 16th over when Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp struck magnificent centuries to keep them competitive. Wolvaardt hit a run-a-ball 135 while Kapp hammered an unbeaten 114 from 94 deliveries; unfortunately India won by four runs and took an unassailable 2-0 advantage in this series.
After an initially slow start, Mandhana began her ascent at an impressive pace, hitting at run-a-ball 24 in just 10 overs to reach her half century and add another 52 with Dayalan Hemalatha in the 23rd over to ensure India did not lose pace. Mandhana reached her hundred in only 103 balls (including four consecutive fours off Nondumiso Shangase to give herself an outside chance at breaking Mithali Raj’s record of most one day international hundreds for India). Additionally, Harmanpreet showed no sign of fatigue as she picked four wickets in those last five overs to ease India to victory and ensure India eased to victory amidst easement by India’s bowlers.
Harmanpreet Kaur | India set a record for highest ever total in women?s ODIs
After an initially slow start to India’s innings, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana combined on an astonishing 292-run partnership for the opening wicket to lay the foundation for an immense total. Mandhana quickly rebounded after her initial lackluster start by hitting 14 fours and two sixes from just 129 balls; it marked her maiden ODI century off just 130 deliveries and became India’s highest ever score against South Africa – surpassing her previous best of 117 from Sunday.
Harmanpreet Kaur assumed control of India?s innings once Mandhana was bowled by Masabata Klaas and quickly increased its pace. She reached her half-century in Sune Luus’ next over, followed by a run-over off Klaas in the 23rd over and hit two sixes off Klaas to achieve her second 150+ partnership with Mandhana? which also marked their longest ever partnership against South Africa.
India continued their stunning run-scoring in their last 10 overs, scoring 14 more fours and five more sixes to score 603/6 for an unprecedented total in women?s one day internationals. Australia set their previous record back in February 2024 at 544/6; India broke this with a boundary from Richa Ghosh off Annerie Dercksen in the 109th over.
Harmanpreet Kaur became the first Indian to score a century in an ODI against South Africa
Harmanpreet Kaur made history when she hit her maiden century against England at the World Cup 2022 and has gone on to set new benchmarks ever since. Hailing from Moga, once known for its drug trade, she has taken India forward in terms of ODI cricket both domestically and abroad.
Kaur has taken over from Mithali Raj as captain and guided her women’s team to unprecedented heights since she took the reins after retiring last year, taking them all the way up the ODI rankings, winning three T20 tournaments, leading them to victory against England for the first ODI series win in 23 years, and being appointed full-time captain last year.
Bengaluru witnessed her achieve another significant achievement when she made history by becoming the first Indian female batswoman to score a century against South Africa in an ODI match. At 29 years old, she produced an unbeaten 103 off 88 balls to lead India to an astounding total of 325 runs against their South African opponent.
After an initially slow start, she quickly reached a run-a-ball 24 in the 18th over and continued her innings with increasing velocity. Smacking seven fours and three sixes along the way to her ton, most of her runs came off leg side hits; all but one of her nine fours and two of three sixes came from there.
Harmanpreet Kaur became the first Indian to score a century in an ODI against Australia
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur emerged from the field Thursday a beaten, exhausted wreck. Fighting back tears as she described what had been an extraordinary innings and game which will change women’s cricket in India forever, she spoke about its importance and transformational power.
India have made incredible strides despite an inconsistent start at this World Cup and Harmanpreet has been central to their revival. A superb 171 against Australia in their semi-final put them in prime position to face England at Lord’s in the sold-out final matchup.
Kaur’s century was her first against Australia and India’s fastest ever against them; surpassing her own 86-ball effort from 2017 World Cup semi-final. Additionally, it set a new mark for women’s ODI cricket as South Africa had attempted unsuccessfully to chase 295 against England earlier in 2018.
Mandhana and Kaur have now combined for seven centuries in ODIs – tied for second with Mithali Raj and Tammy Beaumont on India’s list – making them joint joint-most prolific duo for India in this format. Furthermore, their eight 150+ partnerships for fourth wicket or lower have also set new records. These batsmen are the only pair who have scored consecutive centuries while both batting at No. 4 or lower in India’s batting order.
