Smriti Mandhana, the Indian vice-captain and star batter, emerged as the hero of the day in India’s emphatic victory over Pakistan in the Women’s Asia Cup 2024. Not only did she contribute significantly with the bat, but her heartwarming gesture after the game won her even more praise.

Mandhana’s batting brilliance was on full display as she anchored India’s chase with a dominant 45 off just 31 balls. Her knock, laced with nine boundaries, formed the foundation for a comfortable seven-wicket win. Partnering with the explosive Shafali Verma (40), Mandhana stitched together a crucial opening partnership of 85 runs, effectively taking the game away from Pakistan within the first 10 overs.

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Earlier, India’s bowling attack had put on a clinical display, restricting Pakistan to a meagre 108 runs. Deepti Sharma spearheaded the attack with a three-wicket haul, ably supported by Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar, and Shreyanka Patil, who bagged two wickets each. Sidra Ameen (25) and Fatima Sana’s unbeaten 22 were the only saving graces for the Pakistani batting lineup.

Adeesha Herath’s love for cricket brought her to the stadium, despite all the challenges. The highlight of her day? A surprise encounter with her favorite cricketer, Smriti Mandhana, who handed her a mobile phone as a token of appreciation 🥺

𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞… pic.twitter.com/iqgL2RNE9v

— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) July 20, 2024

However, the day wasn’t just about cricketing dominance. Mandhana’s heartwarming act after the match truly captured the spirit of sportsmanship. A video of her gifting a mobile phone to a young disabled fan named Adeesha Herath went viral, showcasing the cricketer’s compassion and generosity.

Adeesha’s dedication to the sport, despite her challenges, resonated with Mandhana, who made her day with this thoughtful gesture. Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was understandably delighted with her team’s performance.

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She acknowledged the collective effort, particularly praising the bowlers and openers for setting the tone. Kaur also revealed that her knee injury was holding up well, dispelling any concerns about her fitness. India will now look to build on this momentum when they face the United Arab Emirates in their next encounter on Sunday.