Smriti Mandhana hits 60-ball Hundred in Western Storms’ victory

Smriti Mandhana continued her excellent run with a 60-ball century, helping Western Storm to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Lancashire Thunder in the Kia Women’s T-20 Superleague on Friday.

Chasing at Old Trafford, the Storm opener struck four straight sixes to notch up her ton before perishing the very next ball with two runs still needed for victory. During her stay at the crease, Mandhana hit 12 boundaries and four sixes to help her side achieve the target with eight balls to spare.

Her match-winning performance continued the streak of good scores she has put up this tournament. In five appearances, Mandhana has scored 282 runs, at an average of 90, with her lowest score being 37. Her other contributions in those five matches are 48, 52*, 43* and 102, which she scored today.

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Earlier, Amy Satterthwaite has smashed an unbeaten 85 off 57 balls to lead the Thunder charge helping them post 153-7 on board. Her half-century partnership with Emma Lamb (13) steadied the ship but she eventually ran out of partners with none of the other batswomen crossing 15.

Mandhana’s national teammate, Harmanpreet Kaur, however, got out for a duck and had also missed a tough opportunity to remove Mandhana, when she was on 49. Kaur was run out after a mismatch with Satterthwaite even before she could add something on the scoreboard.

Despite the blow of losing Rachel Priest and Heather Knight, Mandhana found an able partner in Stafanie Taylor (33*) and the pair together added 105 for the third wicket.

The victory propelled the Storm into the joint top position alongside Loughborough Lightning.