Harmanpreet Kaur Surpasses Mithali Raj In Elite List After Superb Century vs Zimbabwe In 2nd WODI

Veteran India batter Harmanpreet Kaur said her 124-run third-wicket partnership with Pratika Rawal laid the foundation for India's recovery in the second ODI against Zimbabwe, before Deepti Sharma's ‘magic' ensured the hosts reached 328/6. Harmanpreet, who top-scored with 126 off 121 balls, laced with 15 boundaries, further said batting in the day after a long run of evening matches had made batting conditions tough, especially after India lost Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma inside three overs.

“It wasn't easy conditions. Nowadays we play a lot of night games. After a long time playing under the sun, difficult conditions to bat in. After losing two wickets, Pratika and I had a very good partnership and then Deepti did the magic on the pitch,” Harmanpreet said to broadcasters at the innings break.

The former India captain shared a record 153-run stand for the fifth wicket with Deepti, who hit 106 not out off 86 balls, laced with 15 boundaries, and said she was happy to take a back seat and rotate the strike as the off-spin bowling all-rounder found the boundary with ease at the other end.

It was Harmanpreet's eighth women's ODI hundred, which saw her cross legendary India batter Mithali Raj for the most WODI centuries by an Indian. Smriti Mandhana leads the way with 14, but is now followed by Harmanpreet's eight and then Mithali's seven.

“When somebody just came in and is getting boundaries, your job is to take single and keep giving strike. Good to see that she was taking responsibility and good to watch her from the other end,” said Harmanpreet.

Harmanpreet, who was dropped three times while making her eighth ODI hundred, added that the pitch did not play true early on and the focus was on staying at the crease.

“It wasn't a true wicket. Initially was holding a bit. Idea was to keep batting and keep holding your shape. That gave us the result today. I just want to enjoy myself on the field. Key is to keep batting and keep enjoying myself. Good thing is that I'm hitting the ball well,” she said.

Reflecting on her partnership with Pratika, who made 61 off 67 balls, Harmanpreet credited the Zimbabwe bowlers for their early discipline and said the two right-handed batters had worked out a clear plan to rebuild the innings.

“Initially they were bowling well, hitting good areas. Pratika and I had good communication that we have to build our innings. We have to see which balls we have to take charge and which balls to give respect. That partnership gave us confidence to build the innings,” she added.

While the Zimbabwe bowlers were only moderately accurate with their lines, it was their sloppy fielding that hurt them the most, with several catches going down at crucial moments. It would be interesting to see if they can make a match out of it in the second innings.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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