On a flat pitch, Smriti showcased her trademark flair and aggression at the top of the order and gave India early momentum in their pursuit of a record target of 413. Smriti began by elegantly punching Kim Garth off the back foot for four, before heaving, driving, and pulling Megan Schutt for a hat-trick of fours.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Though Australia took out her opening partner Pratika Rawal, Smriti marched forward by dispatching Ashleigh Gardner down the ground for six, before swatting her over mid-wicket for a boundary.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With an air of ruthlessness and breezy strokeplay, Smriti took two more fours and a six off Kim Garth, before hitting Ashleigh for two boundaries \u2013 the last of which was a drive creamed through extra cover \u2013 to bring up a sensational fifty in just 23 balls. Her efforts brought in lots of applause from the sizeable crowd gathered in the stadium, who also vociferously chanted her name.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the process, Smriti broke the record previously set by India wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who achieved the feat in just 26 balls during the fourth ODI against New Zealand at the John Davies Oval in Queenstown in February 2022.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Smriti\u2019s heroics also meant that India finished their first Power-play at 96\/2, also their best-ever performance in this phase in the format. It also propelled India to bring up their hundred in just the 11th over, the quickest they have reached the three-figure mark in the 50-over format.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the process, Smriti broke the record previously set by India wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who achieved the feat in just 26 balls during the fourth ODI against New Zealand at the John Davies Oval in Queenstown in February 2022.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Incidentally, she owns the record for the fastest century by an Indian women\u2019s batter, which came in 70 balls against Ireland earlier this year in Rajkot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n