Classy Mandhana helps Super Giants beat SunrisersFigure caption, Magnificent Mandhana powers Super Giants to win over SunrisersByTimothy AbrahamBBC Sport JournalistPublished59 minutes agoThe Hundred women’s competition, HeadingleySunrisers Leeds 142-4 (100 balls): Sutherland 35 (24); Villiers 1-6Manchester Super Giants 147-6 (96 balls): Mandhana 88* (50); Baker 1-9Manchester Super Giants won by four wicketsScorecard. Table
Smriti Mandhana made a masterful unbeaten 88 off 50 balls as she guided Manchester Super Giants to a four-wicket win over Sunrisers Leeds which maintained their unbeaten start to The Hundred.
The India opener’s sixth half-century in the history of the tournament was her top score and included seven fours and four sixes.
Mandhana’s unflappable temperament at Headingley was the key as as the stylish left-hander skilfully paced a chase of 143 despite wickets falling around her.
It was a testament to the quality of the knock that Super Giants skipper Meg Lanning, who made 24, was the only other player into double figures.
Mandhana reported the key to her innings was “just committing to the shot” and “not playing anything half-heartedly”.
“If you win matches like this, it really puts us in a good place,” she told Sky Sports.
“In franchise cricket, you have to keep your head down and keep going taking the good days with bad days.”
Mandhana had kept the Super Giants in touch with the run rate throughout their reply before she went for the jugular with 16 needed off the last 10 balls.
The 30-year-old slog-swept Jess Jonassen for six – Darcey Carter allowing the ball to go through her grasp at deep mid-wicket – before pumping the Aussie spinner down the ground and over the ropes again.
Mandhana then sealed the win in style off the first ball of the final set when she dispatched Annabel Sutherland back over her head for six.
Earlier, Sutherland had top scored for Sunrisers with a controlled 35 off 24 balls, striking four fours, in their total of 142-4.
Bryony Smith and Phoebe Litchfield also chipped in with 26 and 31 respectively while Dani Gibson gave the innings late impetus as she clubbed 18 off just six balls.
Grace Ballinger was the most economical of the Super Giants bowlers as her 20 wicketless balls cost only 17 runs.
However, spinner Sophie Ecclestone had a rare off day as her allocation went for 30, while fellow England international Ryana MacDonald-Gay went for six runs more.
