Smriti Mandhana's Record Century Leads India to Dominant Victory Over Hong Kong

Mandhana Dedicates Century to Family

In a remarkable display of skill, Indian cricket star Smriti Mandhana dedicated her record-setting century against Hong Kong to her family. She acknowledged that the Indian team had limited familiarity with their opponents and emphasized the importance of adapting to the game's tempo. Mandhana's outstanding performance helped India Women secure a commanding 137-run win in their Group A match of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, held at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday. "This means a lot to me; I dedicate this to my family. We haven't had much exposure to them, having only watched a few videos, so it was crucial to adjust to the pace of the game," Mandhana stated post-match.

India's Comprehensive Performance

Mandhana's explosive innings of 124 runs off just 64 deliveries propelled India Women to a total of 193/5. In response, Hong Kong struggled, managing only 56 runs as Indian bowlers Deepti Sharma (3 wickets for 9 runs in 3 overs), Shree Charani (2 wickets for 16 runs in 3.2 overs), and Prema Rawat (2 wickets for 12 runs in 3 overs) dismantled their batting order in just 16.2 overs. Additionally, medium pacer Nandani Sharma contributed with two wickets, achieving figures of 2/6 in 3 overs.

Mandhana Breaks Records

With this performance, Mandhana has established herself as the leading century-maker in women's international cricket, surpassing Australia's Meg Lanning. Furthermore, she has overtaken former Indian captain Mithali Raj to become the top run-scorer in women's cricket.

Captain's Reflections on the Match

After the match, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised the strong batting performances of Mandhana and Shafali Verma, while also noting the need for the middle order to gain more experience at the crease. She commended the bowling unit's efforts and highlighted Deepti Sharma's significant contribution. Kaur also appreciated Hong Kong's spirited play, describing the match as a valuable experience. "I want to start with the positives. Smriti and Shafali played exceptionally well. The middle order requires more time at the crease, but our bowlers performed admirably. We are in a good place; we will evaluate if any changes are necessary. I am thankful to these players for representing our country. Deepti has been outstanding. The way Hong Kong celebrates is important; it's essential to enjoy these moments. It was great to compete against them!" Kaur remarked.