Only two batters have scored more than 70% of their runs in boundaries in a test match century in women's cricket. 74% Smriti Mandhana 127 When Smriti Mandhana was finally dismissed for 127 in the one off test match between India and Australia in September-October 2021, she had scored 74% of her runs in boundaries. Mandhana faced 216 deliveries for her 127 runs and hit the ball to the boundary on 22 occasions, and over it once.
She ended up with a strike rate of close to 60. It was a big drop from her going at almost a run a ball till she reached her half century. While Mandhana deserves all the credit for her stroke play, the Australians were also at fault as their opening bowlers Ellyse Perry and Darcy Brown were a bit too short to Mandhana at times and she made full use of the opportunities at hand, particularly targeting the square boundaries both on the off side and the leg side.
Australia gradually began to push the ball fuller and this is when the rate of Mandhana's run scoring slightly declined. It also did not help that almost an entire day of play was washed out due to lightning and bad weather. As a result, Mandana had to take a fresh start on three occasions and get her eye in before trying to accelerate.
It was courtesy of her brilliant century - the first by an Indian batter on Australian soil in Women's test cricket - that India posted 377 runs on the board and called the shots throughout the test match.
Australia then declared at 241/9 after which India tried to make a match of it by declaring at 135. When the match ended, Australia were at 36/2 with India pushing for an unlikely victory.
80% Charlotte Edwards 105 England's Charlotte Edwards holds the record for making the highest percentage of runs in a test century in Women's cricket through boundaries. It came in the second test against India in September 2006.
India batted first and were bowled out for 307. In reply, India were bowled out for just 99 and had to follow on. Edwards, batting at number four in the match, rose to the occasion and struck 105 off 223 deliveries including 21 fours.
Despite Charlotte Edwards' best efforts, India won the match by 5 wickets.
