Mandhana pleased to stand among legends after record outing

India's batting star Smriti Mandhana had an evening to remember, as not only did she score her highest-ever score in the Women's T20Is - 124, but also became the highest run-scorer in Women's internationals across formats and the player with most number of centuries (also across formats) in the women's game.

With 10,880 runs and 18 hundreds to her name at just 30 years of age, Mandhana was pleased to have overtaken legends Mithali Raj and Meg Lanning to achieve the landmark.

Raj was the player with most runs in international cricket before Mandhana, a landmark that the left-hander overtook in the 18th over with a hat-trick of sixes.

"Yeah, till I was batting, I didn't know what record (I had broken) because I didn't know what exact runs (I had made)," Mandhana discussed her stellar knock in the post-match press conference.

"But looking back, I'd say a very good day for Indian cricket. Of course, Mithali (Raj) di has been such a legend and a role model.

"And we've all grown up watching her bat, so to go past in the tally of runs is something that I'd definitely not imagined to do."

Mandhana's second hundred in the format also helped her overtake Meg Lanning as the leading century-maker in the all women's internationals.

Mandhana reflected on how overtaking the two legends was a great feeling.

"Two of the legends of the game: Meg Lanning and Mithali Raj. These are the people I've grown up watching.

"I've tried to take a lot of things from them as batters. So really happy that I could go past them in whatever ways."

Mandhana's starts have given India much to cheer about throughout her career and not much has been different in this Women's Asia Cup.

However, as the team progresses towards sterner tests, a concern remains in the form of their middle-order. In the first game, the side lost eight wickets for 46 runs in the middle and late overs. In yesterday's game, the second-highest score after Mandhana was fellow opener Shafali Verma's 28, with Pratika Rawal (10), Richa Ghosh (11) and Harmanpreet Kaur (10) all failing to get going.

Mandhana, however, was confident that their middle-order would come good in tougher contests. 

"It's (not) easy conditions to bat out there, we know it can be a little tricky. Everyone is a world-class batter in the middle-order as well, and there's no doubt they will be able to adapt."

India go up against arch-rivals Pakistan in their next encounter in Asia Cup on Saturday.