India's Mandhana becomes women's cricket's leading run-scorer

BENGALURU: India batter Smriti Mandhana ⁠became the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket after ​smashing a century ​in her side's Women's Asia Cup victory over Hong Kong on Thursday.
The India vice-captain surpassed former skipper Mithali Raj's tally of 10,868 international runs during a blistering 124 off 64 balls, including 14 fours and ⁠seven sixes. Mandhana now has 10,880 runs across formats.
The ⁠left-hander also posted her 18th international century, moving past former Australia captain Meg Lanning and South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt, who both have ‌17 hundreds, to become the ​leading century-maker in ⁠women's international cricket.
'I didn't know all of ​this happened,' Mandhana said.
'But I ‌love batting and am happy to contribute. There are days when you hit ​balls from the stumps. There are days when you edge one. It's extremely unpredictable.'
Mandhana's knock powered India to 193-5 after they were put in to bat, with opener Shafali Verma's 28 the ‌next-highest score in the innings.
The 30-year-old said Hong Kong's ​disciplined bowling made life difficult early on.
'They were disciplined in ​the ‌powerplay, ⁠bowled really well, and the energy they showed was something we'll learn from,' said Mandhana, who also dedicated her ​achievement to her family.
Mandhana, who made her ⁠India debut ​in 2013, became the first Indian woman to score international centuries in all three formats when she registered her maiden Twenty20 international hundred last year.
India advanced to the ​semifinal of the Asia Cup after restricting Hong ​Kong to a modest total, with Deepti Sharma claiming three wickets. — Reuters