India women’s cricket team skipper Smriti Mandhana gave a standing ovation to Harmanpreet Kaur after the latter scored a hundred against Zimbabwe in the second ODI of the three-match series. Overall, Kaur has amassed eight tons in the fifty-over format.

There have been reports of a rift between the two senior members of the team since the change in the leadership role. Harmanpreet Kaur recently stepped down from captaincy, with the responsibility being given to Smriti.

During the second fixture at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, Smriti stood up to acknowledge the effort of Harmanpreet, who has been playing freely in recent times.

Smriti and Shafali Verma were not able to dominate the rivals’ bowlers, with the skipper failing to open her account. On the other hand, Shafali managed just 8 runs off 8 balls.

Pratika Rawal (61 off 67 balls) and Harmanpreet added 124 runs for the third wicket. Pratika was dismissed in the 23rd over while Tejal Hasabnis had an ordinary outing.

Harmanpreet, who was dropped thrice, kept the scoreboard ticking and completed her century. She faced 121 balls for 126 runs, smashing 15 fours. All-rounder Deepti Sharma posted an impressive century, accumulating 106 runs off 86 deliveries, with the help of 15 boundaries.

Harmanpreet and Deepti stitched a stand of 153 for the fifth wicket to take India’s score to over the 300-run mark.

India scored 328/6 in 50 overs, with Zimbabwe unlikely to reach the target, considering their batting struggles on the ongoing tour of the subcontinent nation.