Smriti stars in India's huge win over S. Africa in women's 2nd ODI

Kimberley, Feb 7 - Opener Smriti Mandhana struck 135 runs to help the Indian women's cricket team hammer South Africa by 178 runs as they took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match One-day International series, part of the ICC Women's

Her dismissal brought in veteran skipper Mithali Raj (20 off 34; 4X1), who added 51 runs in the company of Smriti, who by then had crossed her half century off 64 deliveries.

With India in a spot of bother losing two wickets for 107, Harmanpreet joined forces with Smriti and the duo frustrated the South Africans with quality strokeplay.

Smriti, who struck a 98-ball 84 in the opening match, took her time and smartly got to the three-figure mark off 116 balls, before taking the attack to the opposition, resulting in a 134-run third wicket stand with Harmanpreet.

Just when it appeared that the duo will bat the hosts out of the game, off-spinner Raisibe Ntozakhe struck with the crucial wicket of Smriti, who registered her third ODI century.

But the joy was short-lived for the Protea women with Veda going all guns blazing for her 33-ball half century, which resulted in a 61-run undefeated stand with Harmanpreet.

Brief Scores: Indian women 302/3 (Smriti Mandhana 135, Harmanpreet Kaur 55 not out, Veda Krishnamurthy 51 not out) vs South Africa women: 124 all out in 30.5 overs (Lizelle Lee 73; Poonam Yadav 4/24, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2/14, Deepti Sharma 2/34).

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IANS