India opener Smriti Mandhana smashed a 20-ball 48 on her Kia Super League debut as her side Western Strom romped to a seven-wicket victory over Yorkshire Diamonds at Taunton.
Mandhana missed a well-deserved half-century by a whisker but she made her mark with flawless strokeplay, scoring at a strike rate of 240 – the best of the match, which was way higher than the player of the match and Madhana’s captain Heather Knight’s 97 scored at a strike rate of 156.45.
Mandhana, the first player from India to become a part of the KSL, took a liking for the opposition spinners, clobbering them to all parts of the ground. Mandhana was severe to leg-break bowler Helen Fenby tonking her for two sixes and two boundaries, using her feet to good effect.
Mandhana’s knock was laced with five sixes and three fours. The target of 163 became a cakewalk for the Storms courtesy the whirlwind 80-run second wicket stand between Mandhana and Knight, coming from just 47 balls.
Knight picked up after Mandhana’s departure and made her way to a rollicking 97 off 62 balls as Storms cut through the Diamonds to reach home with 27 balls to spare.