Smriti Mandhana wins ICC women's Cricketer of the Year
Dubai(PTI): India's swashbuckling opener Smriti Mandhana was on Monday named the ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year for her incredible run of form across all formats in 2021.
Mandhana was short-listed for the top award -- the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy -- along with Tammy Beaumont of England, Lizelle Lee of South Africa and Gaby Lewis of Ireland, the ICC said in a statement.
Despite India enduring a difficult 2021, Mandhana's stock continued to rise this year.
In the limited-overs series against South Africa where India won just two of the eight matches at home, Mandhana played a major role in both of the wins. She made 80 not out as India chased down 158 in the second ODI that helped them level the series and scored 48 not out in the win in the final T20I.
The 25-year-old played a sublime innings of 78 in the first innings of the one-off Test against England that ended in a draw. She played an important knock of 49 in India's only win in the ODI series.
Her 15-ball 29 and fifty in the T20I series went in vain though as India fell short in both the matches and lost the series 2-1. The Southpaw was in good touch in the series against Australia, starting with the ODI series where she scored 86 in the second ODI.
She compiled a brilliant century in the only Test (the first of her career), and was awarded the Player of the Match. She scored her second T20I fifty of the year in the final T20I, though India fell short and lost the series 2-0.
Mandhana made India's first-ever pink-ball Test even more memorable by smashing her maiden century in the longest format.
A year to remember 🤩
— ICC (@ICC) January 24, 2022
Smriti Mandhana's quality at the top of the order was on full display in 2021 🏏
More on her exploits 👉 https://t.co/QI8Blxf0O5 pic.twitter.com/3jRjuzIxiT
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Man arrested in Belur for alleged dowry harassment, murder of wife
Belur: A 40-year-old man has been arrested in Rajanasiriyur village of Belur taluk on charges of dowry harassment and allegedly murdering his wife.
The accused, identified as Madhu, was married to 34-year-old Channamma for the past 15 years. According to police sources, the couple had frequent disputes in recent years, and family members had intervened on several occasions to resolve their differences.
Madhu is also accused of harassing Channamma for dowry despite her family having purchased an auto rickshaw for him earlier.
On February 18, Channamma was allegedly assaulted by her husband and sustained serious injuries. She was admitted to the district hospital and underwent treatment for nearly a week. However, she died on February 25 after failing to respond to medical care.
Following the incident, a case was registered at the Halebidu Police Station. Police officials visited the village, conducted an inspection and took Madhu into custody.
Further investigation is in progress.
