India defeats Ireland by 116 runs to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the Women’s ODI series

India defeated Ireland by 116 runs on Sunday to clinch the one-day international series in Rajkot.
The hosts won the first round of the three-match series by six wickets on Friday and easily defeated Ireland in the second match on Sunday. Jemimah Rodrigues scored 102, while Harleen Deol contributed 89 as India recorded a dominant total of 370-5.

The Irish scored 254-7, their highest ODI score against India. Christina Coulter Reilly scored 80, her maiden international half-century. However, teenage spinner Aimee Maguire was reported for a suspect bowling action in the first ODI on Friday. The 18-year-old, who took three wickets in the game, will be examined at an International Cricket Council-accredited testing facility during the following two weeks.

India amassed a huge 370 for five, including three half-centuries and a tonne, before reducing Ireland to 254 for 7 in the allotted 50 overs. Smriti Mandhana, the graceful skipper, was first off the blocks, scoring an aggressive 73 off 54 balls, while Rodrigues’ first century secured a smooth finish for the hosts.

Pratika Rawal, a newcomer, and Harleen Deol, a seasoned veteran, both enjoyed themselves despite a poor bowling performance. Ireland batted consistently, but lacked the firepower to beat India’s massive score. Except for Christina Coulter Reilly’s 80, the other batsmen did not put up much of a fight, with off-spinner Deepti Sharma emerging as the best of the Indian bowlers, with figures of 3 for 37. Seamer Titas Sadhu took 1 for 48 in 10 overs.

The visitors lost skipper Gaby Lewis for 12 before opening partner Sarah Forbes (38) and Coulter Reilly led Ireland to 87-1. After Forbes went, Coulter Reilly and Laura Delany (37) added 83 for the fourth wicket, but Ireland remained considerably below the needed run rate. They could only manage 254-7 from 50 overs, with Deepti Sharma getting 3-37 and Irish spinner Orla Prendergast taking 2-75.

In total, Indian hitters scored 44 boundaries and three sixes in 50 overs. Rodrigues’ record, with only six half-centuries in 40 games, belied her abilities. But when she got the boundary off medium pacer Arlene Kelly, her delight was evident, and she performed a pretend guitar act with her willow.

Alyssa Healy of Australia moved up to sixth place with 678 points after scoring 70 against England in the women’s Ashes series opener.

The top three ODI bowlers are all presently playing in the Ashes series, with England’s Sophie Ecclestone (779) maintaining the lead. The 25-year-old claimed six wickets in the first two One-Day Internationals in Australia.

Gaby Lewis, Ireland captain: “We put on a total higher than the last game, that is a positive. Shows the future of Irish cricket, great to watch from the sidelines. It was more about the fearlessness, shows more about the work the coaching staff has done over the years.”

Smriti Mandhana, India captain: “We won the toss, chose to bat and the girls put on a clinic. Really happy for Jemi, Harleen and Pratika. Bowlers were pretty disciplined. Happy with the efforts on the field, we can work on the dropped catches but pretty happy. It is a new partnership for the both of us, she has a mature head on her shoulder. She wants to stitch up a partnership, happy to have her at the other end. Singles and doubles are crucial and that has contributed in the 100-run partnerships. We have a massive role knowing it is a World Cup year. It is a new unit but they have experience in domestics, it is about trying to help them with conditions and field placements. They have the variations, slower ones, bouncers, it is a nice thing. Blessing as a captain to have that, I am happy to guide them when they need me.”

Jemimah Rodrigues, Player of the Match: “I am relieved. I am used to scoring hundreds in domestic, was bothering me. Sometimes you get a lot of overs, sometimes you don’t. I had to get back to how I used to play in my U-19s, because I have played a lot of T20s. It was a little difficult for me, because I felt I have not played enough. The No. 5 position is like T20 sometimes and sometimes it is longer. That phase is long – you have to take singles, rotate strike – and I am happy I was patient today. We had a conversation that we need to keep batting till 40th. We knew we could make up anytime. When I was slow, she made up, when she was slow, I made up. Not batted a lot together but we have played together, so we know each other.”

Scores:

India 370 for 5 in 50 overs (Smriti Mandhana 73, Pratika Rawal 67, Harleen Deol 89, Jemimah Rodrigues 102; Orla Prendergast 2/75).

Ireland 254 for 7 in 50 overs (Sarah Forbes 38, Christina Coulter Reilly 80, Laura Delany 37; Deepti Sharma 3/37, Priya Mishra 2/53).