A record-breaking day in women's One-Day Internationals saw four centuries scored in one match, totaling 646 runs. The crowd in Bengaluru enjoyed an absolute thriller that went down to the final delivery, where India emerged victorious to take a 2-0 lead in the series with one match still to come.
Four centuries mark a first in women’s One-Day Internationals. The total number of runs is 646. The spectators in Bengaluru were treated to as fascinating a game of 50-over cricket as they could have dreamed, and the result was also in their favor: India women clinched a last-ball win over South Africa to seal the series 2-0 with one match remaining.
The match reached a fever pitch in the final over, with Pooja Vastrakar tasked with defending 10 runs after India had set a target of 325/3. After a shaky start to the over, Vastrakar claimed two crucial wickets in succession. The game rested on the final ball with five runs required, but Vastrakar's deceptive slower ball beat Laura Wolvaardt (135*). Both she and Deepti Sharma finished as the standout bowlers for India, each taking two wickets.
Having been asked to bat first, India posted their third-best ODI score ever, thanks to dominant centuries from Smriti Mandhana (136) and Harmanpreet Kaur (103*). South Africa's chase seemed hopeless at 67/3, but a massive 184-run partnership between Marizanne Kapp (114) and captain Laura Wolvaardt breathed life back into the game. Supported by 28 runs from Nadine de Klerk, the Proteas almost achieved their highest-ever successful chase but missed the mark in the end.
The innings began steadily with a 62-run opening partnership between Mandhana and D Hemalatha (24). However, the momentum shifted gears once Harmanpreet Kaur joined Mandhana, as the duo tore through the bowling with a 171-run stand off just 136 balls. This performance was particularly special for Mandhana, who became the first Indian woman to hit centuries in consecutive ODIs. Their combined efforts turned a slow start into a dominant position, while Richa Ghosh added a useful 25* at the end.