On Friday, India took a 1-0 lead in the three-match women’s ODI series in Rajkot after defeating an inexperienced Ireland by six wickets.
India defeated an inexperienced Ireland by six wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match women’s ODI series in Rajkot on Friday. Pratika Rawal displayed maturity above her experience, while Tejal Hasabnis completed an unforgettable comeback with fifty each. After substitute captain Smriti Mandhana’s quick 41, Rawal led the modest run chase of 239 with a career-best 89 (96 balls) that included 10 fours and one six. After her comeback, Hasabnis, who last played an ODI against New Zealand in October 2024, hit her first fifty and remained undefeated at 53 off 46 balls with nine boundaries.
India won the match with 93 balls remaining as Rawal and Hasabnis combined for a game-winning 116-run partnership from 84 balls.
Mandhana gave the squad an incredible start with a scorching 29-ball 41, adorned with six fours and a six, continuing her dominant form from the West Indies series. She achieved this by being the 15th player overall and the second Indian to reach 4,000 ODI runs.
Mandhana’s aggressive strokeplay on both sides of the wicket unnerved the Irish bowlers. In the eighth over, she stepped out to strike a boundary, then a six and another four, demonstrating her aggression against seamer Dempsey.Excellent support was given by her rookie opening partner Rawal, who made his debut in the previous West Indies series.
The two kept the scoreboard moving smoothly by sharing their third opening stand of fifty or more in four games.
But just before powerplay ended, Ireland made a breakthrough when Mandhana miscalculated a slog sweep to mid-on, missing her fifty-run mark by nine runs.
At first, Harleen Deol (20) and Jemimah Rodrigues (9) appeared to be playing well, but left-arm spinner Aimee Maguire’s astute bowling (3/57 from 8 overs) momentarily stopped India’s progress.When Jemimah was at least a foot outside her crease, the 18-year-old Maguire enticed her to go out too far, which led to a stumping.
Mandhana’s brilliant start kept India well on par despite the team losing three wickets for 46 runs during this round.
Ireland lost 21 runs in extras as they were unable to gain pace, highlighting their inexperience.
Their bowling unit’s weakest member, Laura Delany, delivered two waist-high full tosses with consecutive no balls in the 24th over, giving Hasabnis the chance to score consecutive fours from the two freebies.Earlier, visiting captain Gaby Lewis cruised to a solid 238 for 7 after butterfingered India’s poor fielding let Ireland off the hook.
Leah Paul (59 off 73 balls) and Lewis (117 runs for the fifth wicket) helped lead Ireland out of serious difficulty when they chose to bat and were 56 for four in the 14th over.
Lewis decorated the knock with 15 boundaries as she reached her runs on 129 balls.With the help of at least three obvious dropped catches and a couple misfields, Lewis and Paul worked methodically to put together the team’s first-ever century partnership against India. They also provided some solidity to the Ireland innings.
When Sarah Forbes (9) attempted to play away from her body, medium pacer Titas Sadhu forced an outside edge, resulting in India’s maiden breakthrough. Deepti Sharma completed the remaining runs in the slip cordon.With the help of at least three obvious dropped catches and a couple misfields, Lewis and Paul worked methodically to put together the team’s first-ever century partnership against India. They also provided some solidity to the Ireland innings.
When Sarah Forbes (9) attempted to play away from her body, medium pacer Titas Sadhu forced an outside edge, resulting in India’s maiden breakthrough. Deepti Sharma completed the remaining runs in the slip cordon.
