Smriti Mandhana lauds Punam Raut’s gesture

Despite
the
umpire
not
raising
his
finger
after
her
faint
edge
was
taken
behind
the
stumps
–
Punam
walked
—
a
decision
which
was
praised
by
many,
but
there
was
also
some
criticism
that
her
act,
though
done
in
the
spirit
of
the
game,
could
cost
her
team.

But
flamboyant
opener,
who
shattered
a
few
records
while
scoring
her
maiden
century
had
no
qualms
whatsoever
about
Punam’s
decision.

“Our
first
reaction
was,
‘Why
did
you
do
that?’ but
then
that
is
something
we
all
respect
her
for,”
Smriti
said.

“I
don’t
know
how
many
people
–
men
or
women
–
in
cricket
would
walk
at
the
moment,
if
there’s
no
DRS,”
the
25-year-old
added.

Smriti
Mandhana
slams
maiden
ton
before
Australi
comeback
on
rain-hit
day
2

Smriti’s
stroke-filled
maiden
Test
hundred
helped
India
make
276
for
five
on
the
truncated
second
day
of
the
pink
ball
Test
the
Carrara
Oval.

Her
innings
won
laurels
from
many
in
the
cricket
fraternity
including
legends
like
Sachin
Tendulkar.

Thank
you

@sachin_rt
sir.
Means
a
lot
coming
from
you
????

https://t.co/dQpwb39np2

—
Smriti
Mandhana
(@mandhana_smriti)

October
1,
2021

Just
like
the
opening
day,
Day
2
was
also
marred
by
rain.

Earlier
Smriti
became
the
first
Indian
woman
to
hit
a
century
in
day-night
Tests
and
also
the
first
from
the
country
to
reach
three
figures
in
the
game’s
traditional
format
on
the
Australian
soil.

Smriti
made
127
off
216
balls
with
the
help
of
22
boundaries
and
a
six
at
the
Carrara
Oval,
and
added
an
Indian
record
of
102
runs
in
Australia
for
the
second
wicket
with
Punam
(36),
continuing
the
good
work
after
putting
on
93
with
Shafali
Verma
on
a
rain-marred
opening
day.

She
brought
her
century
with
a
short-arm
pull
shot
off
Ellysse
Perry
in
the
52nd
over
Smriti
took
off
her
helmet,
raised
her
bat,
tossed
the
hair
off
her
face
and
allowed
herself
a
smile,
a
moment
which
was
celebrated
on
social
media
by
her
team-mates.

Alexa
please
put

@imharleenDeol
on
mute
????

https://t.co/szmExAFOZg

—
Smriti
Mandhana
(@mandhana_smriti)

October
1,
2021

Smriti
would
not
have
added
to
her
overnight
score
of
80
in
the
second
over
of
Day
2
but
Perry
overstepped.
Replays
showed
that
the
catch
too
might
have
been
debatable.

About
the
lucky
break
Smriti
admitted
she
was
devastated
after
giving
a
catch
off
a
full-toss.
“Then
that
no-ball
(call)
came
out
of
the
(blue).”

The
India
opener,
however,
overcame
the
early
jitters
and
went
about
her
business
in
a
professional
manner
while
playing
some
lovely
shots,
including
a
magnificent
straight
drive
off
Annabel
Sutherland.

She
looked
set
for
more
but
was
caught
at
short
mid-off
off
the
bowling
Ash
Gardner,
after
playing
an
uppish
drive.

(With
inputs
from
Agencies)