Southern Brave opener Smriti Mandhana will play no further part in The Hundred after deciding to return to India to see her family before their series in Australia from 19 September.

By Fatuma
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Updated: August 12, 2021
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Mandhana, who has scored 167 runs in seven innings, will be replaced by Ireland’s Gaby Lewis.

Harmanpreet Kaur will also fly home after missing Manchester Originals’ last two games with a quad injury.

“It’s been a fantastic competition and I’ve really enjoyed it,” said Mandhana.

“I would love to be able to stay with the team until the final but we’ve been away from home for a long time with more tours ahead. I’ll be watching the team at Lord’s and hoping they can continue our good form.”

Opener Lewis, who made her Ireland debut as a 13-year-old in 2014, becomes the second Irish player to join Southern Brave after Paul Stirling signed for the men’s team last month.

“It’s a very exciting opportunity, and I can’t wait to get over there,” said the 20-year-old Dubliner.

“It’s a great chance to be around, and learn from, some of the best in the world, and I want to thank the Southern Brave for giving me the opportunity.”

Brave qualified for the 21 August final at Lord’s with a 39-run win over Welsh Fire on Wednesday, with Mandhana scoring 78, while Kaur’s Originals’ side are bottom of the eight-team table.

In the men’s competition, third-placed Trent Rockets have recalled Marchant de Lange, who took eight wickets in four games earlier in the tournament, to replace the injured Wahab Riaz.

Source: BBC Sport

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