The left-hander came within one wicket of giving Sydney Thunder a thrilling victory over Melbourne Renegades, but she was unable to strike the crucial maximum from Harmanpreet’s penultimate delivery.
With a record-equaling 114 not out on Wednesday, Smriti Mandhana became the first Indian to score a century in the Women’s Big Bash League, but her valiant effort was in vain as her Sydney Thunders lost the match.
Ironically, Mandhana failed to hit a winning six off India T20 skipper Harmanpreet Kaur in the final over, as Melbourne Renegades triumphed by four runs and eliminated Sydney Thunder from contention for the final.
Mandhana, who faced 64 balls, smacked 14 fours and three sixes, tying Australian batter Ashleigh Gardner for the greatest individual total in WBBL history.
The left-hander came within a whisker of leading the Thunder to a thrilling victory over the Renegades, but she was unable to hit the crucial maximum from Harmanpreet’s penultimate ball, and her team finished on 171/2.
The reigning champs needed an upset win to keep their fragile playoff hopes alive, and they got off to a shaky start when Sammy-Jo Johnson (12) and Phoebe Litchfield (1) were both called for penalties inside the powerplay.
With 63 runs needed from the last five overs, the asking rate was increasing.
In the 18th over, Mandhana switched gears and took 24 runs off Holly Ferling. She subsequently reached her century in 57 balls, but there was still work to be done in the next two overs, as 22 runs were required.
Sophie Molineux, the Renegades’ captain, gave up just nine runs in the 19th over, leaving Mandhana to face Harmanpreet Singh’s off-spin.
Mandhana, who benefited from two fielding errors, was unable to clinch what would have been a memorable triumph by hitting the last-ball six necessary.
Harmanpreet Singh top-scored for the Renegades, who batted first, with an 81-ball 81 not out that included 11 fours and two sixes.
She and English batter Eve Jones shared a 91-run third-wicket stand (42 off 33 balls). Jemimah Rodrigues, another Indian, went out for 2 in the first over.
With the win, the Renegades recaptured first place and are in the driver’s seat to progress to the final.