Hamilton: In a special gesture at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, star opener Smriti Mandhana chose to share her player-of-the-match award with fellow batter Harmanpreet Kaur after the Women in Blue defeated West Indies by a comprehensive 155 runs at Hamilton’s Seddon Park.
Smriti Mandhana and vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored a century each, adding 184 runs for the fourth wicket after India lost three batters in the span of 29 runs. Mandhana scored 123 runs off 119 balls while Harmanpreet also got to her fourth ODI century with 109 runs.
For her blistering knock of 123, Mandhana was adjudged player of the match but at the post-match ceremony. But what happened after is winning the hearts of several netizens. Smriti decided to share her Player of the Match (POTM) trophy with Harmanpreet, who also scored a century in this match.
Mandhana explained that both of them were equally deserving of the award and insisted that the ICC must give another trophy to Harmanpreet who too reached the three-figure mark.
“I think we both contributed equally for us to score 300. It is good to share the trophy. As a batter we prefer both, if the toss does not go your way, in chasing it is very important to get the momentum. I’m sure the ICC will be giving another trophy, they have enough budget,” said Mandhana in the post-match press conference.
𝗔 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗢𝗳 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗦! 👏 👏@mandhana_smriti shares her Player of the Match award with fellow centurion & #TeamIndia vice-captain @ImHarmanpreet ! 🙌 🙌 #CWC22 | #WIvIND
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/ZOIa3KL56d pic.twitter.com/8REiQMSLke
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) March 12, 2022
The duo’s unbeaten stand became the highest partnership for India for any wicket in the history of the Women’s World Cup, going past Thirush Kamini and Punam Raut’s 175-run opening partnership against West Indies during the 2013 Women’s World Cup.
“Scoring a century and not being a player of the match is something I wouldn’t want. I think we both contributed equally for us to score 300. It is good to share the trophy. I’m sure the ICC will be giving another trophy, they have enough budget (smiles),” Mandhana added.
India now stand top of the Women’s World Cup 2022 points table with two wins in three games. They had earlier beaten Pakistan in their tournament opener, recording their 11th straight win in ODIs. India will next face defending champions England on March 16 at the Bay Oval.
