Top 3: Smriti Mandhana rates Pink-ball Test hundred as one of her best knocks after Australia survive scare

IPL 2021: Smriti Mandhana was named the Player of the Match for her maiden hundred in the pink-ball Test that ended in a draw. Australia survived a massive scare as Indian women dominated with both the ball and the bat. Smriti Mandhana was named the Player of the Match in India’s first-ever Pink-ball Test (Reuters Photo)HIGHLIGHTSSmriti Mandhana was named the Player of the Match in the Pink-ball TestSmriti hit 127 and followed it up with a quick 31 in the second inningsAustralia survived a massive scare from India as the Pink-ball Test ended in a drawSmriti Mandhana said on Sunday that her maiden Test hundred will definitely rank among one of her top 3 knocks as it came in a momentous occasion for India who were playing their first-ever Pink-ball Test against Australia in Gold Coast, Queensland.

Smriti Mandhana hit a classy 127, smashing a six and 22 boundaries as the left-handed opener flaunted her lazy elegance on Day 1 of the pink-ball Test. Mandhana helped India dominate the Australian bowling attack even as the visitors were playing with the pink cherry for the first time. India got off to a strong start, thanks to a 93-run opening stand between Smriti and Shafali Verma after Australia won the toes and opted to field.The conditions were a bit alien for India and the high-quality Australian attack would have looked to wrap up India’s innings early but Smriti Mandhana set the platform for India’s mammoth first-innings total. The visitors posted 377 for 8 and declared their innings on Day 3 after rain washed away most part of the first two days at the Carrara Oval.”It’s definitely in the top three (when asked to rate the hundred). First time playing a day-night Test, really happy that I gave a good pace to the team,” Smriti Mandhana said.Player of the Match is @mandhana_smriti and she speaks about the experience of playing Test cricket under lights and her knock. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/F6FLoYBp4O— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) October 3, 2021
Most nervous night I have ever had: Smriti Smriti went to Stumps on Day 1 remaining unbeaten on 80 and got an early reprieve on Day 2 when she was dismissed off a no-ball. The stylish opener said she was nervous all through the night before the second day’s play in the pink-ball Test.”Most nervous night I have ever had – after the first day. Lucky with that no-ball on 80. That sort of cleared my mind after that.”To wear whites and go into the field is the top-most thing,” she added when asked about the important of Test cricket for India women.India are trailing Australia 4-6 in the multi-format series as the two teams head into a 3-match T20I series, starting October 7. India lost the ODi series 2-1 but they ended Australia’s 26-match unbeaten run by outclassing the hosts in the series finale last month.”We just have three days before the T20s. Rest for a day and get back to business with the T20s coming up,” she added.Click here for our site’s complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.