I'm happy Australian bowlers bowled short: Mandhana

Indian opening batter Smriti Mandhana couldn’t hide her excitement after smashing her maiden Test hundred in the one-off day/night Test against Australia on Friday (October 1). The stylish left-hander said she was glad that the Australian bowlers tried to target her with short deliveries and she ended up using it to her own advantage. The 25-year-old slammed 22 fours and a six in her 216-ball 127 before falling to Ashleigh Gardner.

"Really happy that I finally got through this 80s period. I keep getting out in the 80s and 90s and am really pleased to get the hundred. Definitely, as a batter, you want as much as you can, so disappointed that I gave it away at the end. But nevertheless, I am happy with the performance," Mandhana told the host broadcaster Sony Sports.

"I like the ball coming onto the bat and the short ball is something I look forward to. If the bowler bowls short, that’s something which I want. I'm happy they bowled short and whichever were in my zone, I had to go for it."

Former Indian team’s coach WV Raman said it was about time Mandhana scored her first Test century. Prior to this Test, Mandhana had two fifties in five innings. 

"Ya it was, because she has got to really lead the charge in a sort of way because she is very experienced, she has got a lot of international runs. But even for her, this would have been a little bit of a challenge because batting for 70-odd overs is something that she has not done before because they are all used to playing white-ball cricket," he said.

"That is collaring the attack, dominating, and making it clear to the others in the dressing room that runs can be scored against this attack. She has done a tremendous job out of it because not only has she dominated and provided a great start but she has also carried on batting on the second day, even though of course there has been a lot of play lost.”

Only 44.1 overs were possible on day one because of the bad weather but there was no rain interruption in the first session of the second day. However, the rain once again made its presence felt and only 17.5 overs were bowled in the second session. India were 276/5 before the end of the second session and Mandhana said the declaration will largely depend on the weather.

"We will have to watch the weather and there is some rain forecast. We will see how it goes (on plans of any declaration) in the next one session or so and I think it really depends on the weather," said Mandhana.