Mandhana Scores Maiden T20I Century as India Beat England by 97 Runs

Smriti Mandhana scored her maiden T20 International century, a 112-run knock off 62 balls, leading India to a 97-run victory over England in the first match of the five-match T20I series. She admitted the century "took a long time coming" as she had a habit of getting out in the 70s and 80s, and credited a pep talk from teammate Radha Yadav for motivating her to finally convert a big score. Mandhana, who captained the team in the absence of the injured Harmanpreet Kaur, praised the pitch conditions, her partnerships with Shafali Verma and Harleen Deol, and the Indian bowling unit's strategic execution, especially in bowling slower against the wind. England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt acknowledged her team's poor performance in all departments and the need to improve catching and bowling consistency. Mandhana's century marks a significant milestone as she became the first Indian woman cricketer to score centuries in all three formats and only the second to score a T20I hundred for India after Harmanpreet Kaur. The win gave India a 1-0 lead in the series, with Mandhana emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum and good habits in the matches ahead.