Swashbuckling India opener Smriti Mandhana has been cleared to continue playing at the mega event – ICC Women’s World Cup in New Zealand. However, she got a blow to the head during the team’s first warm-up match against South Africa on Sunday. After that, she was forced to retire hurt after being hit on the head by a deadly Shabnim Ismail bouncer during her team’s first warm-up match, which India won by two runs as well.
According to an ICC report, the 25-year-old Smriti Mandhana was assessed by the team doctor after the incident and was originally declared fit to continue, but retired hurt over and a half later after another consultation. Howveer, as per the reports, she didn’t feel any concussion symptoms according to the medical staff at that time, nor experienced delayed effects from the incident as well.
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The stylish left-handed batter looked in fine touch while scoring her 20th half-century in her previous ODI against New Zealand before the upcoming mega event from March 4. Smriti Mandhana has so far amassed 2461 runs in 64 ODIs, including four centuries as well.
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India are scheduled to play another warm-up, against West Indies, before starting their World Cup campaign against Pakistan on March 6 as well. In the first warm-up game against South Africa, India put up 244 for 9 after a century from Harmanpreet Kaur and Yastika Bhatia’s 58 as well. Sune Luus and Laura Wolvaardt made half-centuries for South Africa but they failed to take the team home as left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad picked up 4 for 46 in her 10 overs spell.
