**Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal Set New Record for Highest-Ever Opening Partnership Against Australia in ICC Women’s World Cups**
*By Gaurav Tripathi | Oct 12, 2025, 06:17 PM*
In a stunning display of skill and teamwork, Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal have set a new record for the highest-ever opening partnership against Australia in ICC Women’s World Cups. The remarkable feat was achieved during India’s group stage match against Australia on Sunday in Visakhapatnam.
The duo surpassed the previous record held by England’s E Bakewell and D Thomas, who had put together 101 runs in the inaugural World Cup of 1973. Mandhana and Rawal are now the only pair to have registered a century stand against Australia in Women’s World Cup history.
### Record-Breaking Feat: Highest Opening Stand Against Australia
According to ESPNcricinfo, Mandhana and Rawal also set a new record for the highest-ever opening partnership against Australia in Women’s One Day Internationals (ODIs). Together, they constructed an impressive 155-run stand before Mandhana was dismissed for 80 runs.
Starting their innings cautiously, the duo gradually took control and unleashed some brilliant strokes, particularly against two of Australia’s premier bowlers, Sophie Molineux and Ashleigh Gardner. Their partnership was highlighted by a series of well-timed boundaries that thrilled fans.
### Milestone Achievement: Second ODI Partnership for Mandhana and Rawal
The ninth over of the match was a turning point when Rawal struck a six followed by a four off Gardner, pushing their partnership past the 50-run mark. This marked their 14th 50-plus stand in ODIs, placing them second only to Harmanpreet Kaur and Mithali Raj, who have 18 such partnerships for India.
This partnership was also their sixth opening stand across 21 WODI innings, with only Mithali Raj and Punam Raut having more century stands for India in this format (7 each).
### Partnership Progress: Fourth Century-Plus Stand of 2025 for the Duo
At 93 runs in the 18th over, Rawal was given a reprieve after being dropped. The partnership quickly climbed to surpass the 100-run milestone, marking their fourth century-plus stand in 2025 alone. This achievement is second only to Australia’s Belinda Clark and Lisa Keightley, who had five such stands in 2000, and New Zealand’s Suzie Bates and Rachel Priest with four in 2015.
### Smriti Mandhana Surpasses 5,000 WODI Runs
Mandhana was eventually dismissed for 80 runs off 66 balls, which included 9 fours and 3 sixes. During this innings, she crossed the significant milestone of 5,000 WODI runs, becoming the fastest woman to do so, achieving it in just 112 innings.
Her career tally now includes 13 centuries and 33 half-centuries. Additionally, with her 18th run in the game, Mandhana became the first-ever batter to complete 1,000 runs in a calendar year in WODIs.
### Pratika Rawal Scores Seventh WODI Fifty
Rawal contributed a solid 75 runs off 96 balls, featuring 10 fours and a six. The 25-year-old now has eight scores of 50 or more across 21 WODI appearances, including one century.
ESPNcricinfo reports that her seventh WODI fifty has taken her overall run tally to 982 runs at an impressive average of 49.10. This was her second fifty against Australia in just four outings and also marked her maiden fifty in the Women’s World Cup.
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This landmark partnership by Mandhana and Rawal not only highlights the depth and talent in the Indian women’s cricket team but also sets the stage for an exciting campaign ahead in the World Cup.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/mandhana-rawal-record-highest-ever-opening-partnership-against-australia-wodis/story
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