This is for Jhulu di: Smriti Mandhana

Hove, September 19

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Star of India’s win over England in the first ODI Smriti Mandhana said the visitors are trying to give a fitting farewell to pace bowling legend Jhulan Goswami, who will be retiring from international cricket after a 20-year-long illustrious career.

The 39-year-old Goswami will bid adieu at the end of the ongoing three-match ODI series. She has played 12 Tests (44 wickets), 202 ODIs (253 wickets) and 68 T20Is (56 wickets).

“I want to say that this series is for Jhulu di, her bowling was amazing. All our efforts in this series will be for Jhulu di,” Mandhana, who hit 91 off 99 balls, said after India’s seven-wicket win on Sunday night.

Goswami (10-2-20-1) also played her part in India’s win with 42 dot balls, helping her side restrict England to 227 for 7.

The 26-year-old Mandhana, who was adjudged Player of the Match, admitted that her natural batting comes out better in the ODIs than in the T20Is.

“ODIs are natural for me, T20s I have to put effort to take care of the strike rate. In ODIs I can just react. But I’m happy to lay the platform.”

She said she would have been happier had she remained unbeaten.

Mandhana was the last Indian batter to get out – in the 37th over – with India still needing 30 runs to win.