After the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 match against the West Indies, Indian opener Smriti Mandhana claimed she and her vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed equally to the squad and that she and centurion Harmanpreet shared the ‘Player of the Match’ title.
On Saturday, March 12, India dominated the West Indies in a World Cup match at Seddon Park in Hamilton, winning by 155 runs.
Mandhana, the Indian team’s highest run-getter, scored 123 runs off 119 deliveries, including 13 boundaries and two sixes. Notably, this was an Indian batter’s second-highest score in a Women’s World Cup match. Also, while batting first, Harmanpreet Kaur hammered 109 runs off 107 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes, to help India register 317/8 on the board.
Mandhana was chosen Player of the Match after India’s triumph, and she stepped up alongside Harmanpreet to accept the trophy, saying that she would share it with him.
Smriti Mandhana: It’s fantastic for us to share the prize.
Smriti, 25, said that she would not want to be in a position where she hits a century but is not awarded Player of the Match. She said, “
“To be honest, I don’t believe scoring a century and not being named Player of the Match is something I’d desire.”
π π§πΌππ°π΅ π’π³ ππππ¦π¦! π π@mandhana_smriti shares her Player of the Match award with fellow centurion & #TeamIndia vice-captain @ImHarmanpreet ! π π #CWC22 | #WIvIND
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) March 12, 2022
Scorecard βΆοΈ https://t.co/ZOIa3KL56d pic.twitter.com/8REiQMSLke
She went on to say that she and Harmanpreet both contributed equally to India’s above 300-run total. Smriti also said that she and her vice-captain are strong candidates for the Player of the Match award.
“I believe we both contributed equally to our 300-point total. It’s a good thing we’re sharing the prize. Both of us are strong competitors for this position (award). I think the ICC has the funds to provide us both separate trophies (laughter).” Mandhana threw in his two cents.
