Smriti Mandhana Rewrote History Before Hong Kong Even Got to Bat. India Breeze Into Asia Cup Semis

Not all victories are about the score. Some are about the records broken along the way.

India women didn’t just win against Hong Kong at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. They demolished them by 137 runs.. In the process Smriti Mandhana made history. Not once not twice. But in an innings.

She became the ever century scorer in women’s international cricket. That’s not a big deal. It’s a giant leap in the record books.

Mandhana Makes a Group Game Turn Into a Coronation

India lost the toss and had to bowl.. From the first over it was clear this match was going to be about one person. Smriti Mandhana. She walked in and the moment she did the game changed.

In the five overs she took control. India were at 38 for no loss. Nothing. Shafali Verma faced six balls. Mandhana had already found her rhythm. Then came the moment that started everything.

In one over off-spinner Marina Lamplough was hit for 22 runs. Mandhana was on fire.

Her first fifty came quickly. Then her second. Off 18 balls. She was unstoppable.

In the 16th over Hong Kong had a chance to get her out. A drop at square leg off Siu Wai.. Mandhana didn’t let it stop her. She turned the mistake into power.

Then she went even further.

In the 18th over she launched three sixes in a row. Off Venkatesh. And in that same over she broke the record for runs by an Indian woman in international cricket.

By the time she walked off Mandhana had smashed 124 runs off 64 balls. She hit 14 fours and 7 sixes. It was a masterpiece. A record that will stand for years.

India Finish Well, Hong Kong Never Rebound

Shafali Verma didn’t get much of a chance to play. She was more of a spectator during the storm.. She still chipped in.

India kept building kept scoring. The top order went strong. The middle order didn’t need to do much.

Hong Kong’s bowlers couldn’t handle the pace. The fielders couldn’t stop the shots.

It wasn’t a win. It was a statement.

Smriti Mandhana didn’t just play an innings. She rewrote the history books.. She did it in front of the world.

Now India are through, to the Asia Cup semis.

No one can say they didn’t see it coming.