Sipu Jha
Team India batter Smriti Mandhana etched her name into cricketing history on Sunday, becoming both the quickest and youngest batter ever to reach 5000 runs in Women’s One Day Internationals. The milestone came during India’s World Cup clash against Australia at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam. Mandhana’s fluent 80 off 66 balls, laced with nine fours and three elegant sixes, showcased the class and composure that have defined her career. Her innings not only powered India to a dominant start but also reaffirmed her status as one of the finest batters in the modern game.Having reached the landmark in record time, Mandhana, 29, surpassed legends who had long held the benchmark in women’s cricket. Her journey to 5000 runs has been one of consistency, flair, and determination — a reflection of the growing strength of Indian women’s cricket. The left-hander’s knock today was a perfect blend of aggression and grace, punishing width outside off and driving confidently through the covers. She shared a commanding 155-run opening partnership with debutant Pratika Rawal, who impressed with an unbeaten 67 off 85 balls, rotating strike smartly and complementing Mandhana’s attacking approach.Australia, after winning the toss and opting to bowl, found little success against India’s disciplined batting. Sophie Molineux provided the breakthrough, dismissing Mandhana for 80 after she miscued a shot to Phoebe Litchfield.Mandhana’s achievement adds another golden chapter to her illustrious career — from her debut as a teenager to now being the youngest to 5000 ODI runs. As the crowd in Visakhapatnam erupted in applause, it was clear that this milestone was more than a statistic.
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