IND vs SL: Smriti Mandhana hits new milestone after return to cricket

Smriti Mandhana marked her return to international cricket by adding a new milestone to her name as she became the second women’s player to cross the 4,000-run mark in Women’s T20Is. Mandhana joins New Zealand’s Suzie Bates as the second player to reach the landmark during the first match of the series against Sri Lanka in Vizag on Sunday, December 21.

The Indian vice-captain returned to the game after a roller-coaster couple of months which saw her play a big role in India’s ODI World Cup win at home in November this year. Soon after that high, her wedding was called off as Mandhana decided to completely switch her focus to the game and help India prepare for the T20 World Cup next year.

The Indian opener needed 18 runs to reach the milestone as India were chasing 122 runs to win in Vizag after a disciplined performance from the bowlers. Mandhana had a watchful start to her innings as India lost Shafali Verma early.

She got her first boundary with a stroke of luck in the second over as the ball took an inside edge and went close to the stumps. There was elegance in the second one as she was able to cut Chamari Athapaththu in the fifth over to get closer to the milestone.

She then hit another boundary in the same over to make it to the landmark.

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