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

Mandhana Shines in Asia Cup Victory

Dubai [UAE], September 3: Indian cricket star Smriti Mandhana dedicated her remarkable century against Hong Kong to her family, emphasizing the need for India to adapt quickly to their opponents due to limited prior knowledge.

In a stunning performance, Mandhana led the Indian Women's team to a commanding 137-run victory over Hong Kong during their Group A match in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday.

“This achievement is for my family. We didn’t have much information about them, having only seen a few clips, so it was crucial to adjust to their pace,” Mandhana remarked following the match.

She scored an impressive 124 runs off just 64 deliveries, helping India set a total of 193/5. In response, Hong Kong struggled, managing only 56 runs as Indian bowlers Deepti Sharma (3/9 in 3 overs), Shree Charani (2/16 in 3.2 overs), and Prema Rawat (2/12 in 3 overs) dismantled their batting order in just 16.2 overs. Medium pacer Nandani Sharma also contributed with two wickets, finishing with figures of 2/6 in 3 overs.

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

After the match, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised the batting efforts of Mandhana and Shafali Verma, while noting that the middle order requires more time to settle in. She commended the bowling performance and Deepti Sharma's impact, while also appreciating Hong Kong's spirited play, calling it a valuable experience.

“I want to highlight the positives. Smriti and Shafali performed exceptionally well. The middle order needs more time at the crease, but our bowlers executed their roles brilliantly. We are in a good place, and we’ll consider any necessary adjustments. I’m thankful for these players representing our country. Deepti has been outstanding, and it’s important to enjoy the game, especially against teams like Hong Kong,” Kaur stated.