Sport

India wrap up women’s ODI series against Ireland with strong batting display

Jemimah Rodrigues’s maiden ODI century helps home side score 370-5 in Rajkot

Jemimah Rodrigues scored her maiden ODI century from 90 balls against Ireland in Rajkot. Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara/AFP via Getty Images
Jemimah Rodrigues scored her maiden ODI century from 90 balls against Ireland in Rajkot. Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara/AFP via Getty Images
Sun Jan 12 2025 - 15:06

2nd Women’s ODI: India 370-5 (50 ovs) (J Rodrigues 102, H Deol 89; O Prendergast 2-75) beat Ireland 254-7 (50 ovs) (C Coulter Reilly 80; D Sharma 3-37) by 116 runs

A more assured batting display by Ireland wasn’t enough to avoid a series defeat to India as the home side went 2-0 up in the three-match series with a 116-run win in Rajkot on Sunday.

After losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, Ireland’s bowlers faced a rampant Indian top order intent on cashing in on a good batting track.

Half-centuries at more than a run-a-ball for Smriti Mandhana, Pritika Rawal and Harleen Deol set the tone, before Jemimah Rodrigues’s maiden ODI century off 90 balls outshone her compatriots.

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Ireland’s bowlers toiled in the warm conditions, claiming three late consolation wickets, but India were well on top at the innings break finishing on 370 for five from their 50 overs.

Needing a positive start, Ireland lost captain Gaby Lewis went early for 12, but Sarah Forbes and Christina Coulter Reilly set about stabilising the innings. Both batters compiled their highest scores of 38 and 80 respectively, in a confidence-building manner that demonstrated they were getting to grips with the Indian conditions.

Coulter Reilly, in only her fourth ODI, started shakily – being hit on the helmet twice – but grew into the innings and looked the most settled of any of the Irish batters. Scoring mainly on the legside, Coulter Reilly brought up her maiden fifty off 78 balls, then looked to push on once she was joined by an energised Laura Delany.

The pair put on 83 from just over 13 overs to push Ireland towards 200. However, both batters fell in consecutive overs, leaving the visitors at risk of being bowled out before 50 overs.

Leah Paul (27 not out) and Arlene Kelly (19) added late runs, and for the second match in a row the Irish side passed its highest score against India. During her innings, Paul became only the seventh Irishwoman to pass 1,000 runs in ODI cricket.

The two sides return for the third ODI on Wednesday at the same venue.