India vs Ireland Women’s ODI: Pratika Rawal and Tejal Hasabnis Shine in Commanding Victory

Digital Desk: India’s rising stars shone brightly as the team clinched a convincing 6-wicket victory over Ireland in the first ODI on Friday in Rajkot. Rookie leg-spinner Priya Mishra made her mark with the ball, taking out key Irish batters Orla Prendergast and Laura Delany in back-to-back deliveries, which halted the visitors’ momentum.

With the bat, debutants Pratika Rawal and Tejal Hasabnis steadied India’s run-chase, building a vital 116-run partnership. Rawal struck 10 fours and a six in her career-best 89 off 96 balls, while Hasabnis finished not out on 53 from 46 deliveries, including nine boundaries. Despite only 60 days separating their ODI debuts late last year, the trio of newcomers delivered standout performances, ensuring India reached the target with 93 balls to spare.

Ireland’s Resilient Batting Display

On a batting-friendly pitch, India’s bowlers made early breakthroughs, reducing Ireland to 56/4 in the 14th over. However, Irish captain Gaby Lewis displayed her talent with a brilliant 92, partnering with Leah Paul for a 117-run stand. Missed catches and fielding errors allowed Ireland to recover and set a competitive total of 238/7.

India’s Response: Mandhana’s Milestone and Rawal’s Brilliance

Stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana provided India with a fiery start, scoring 41 off 29 balls, which included six fours and a six. In doing so, she became the second Indian and the 15th player overall to surpass 4,000 ODI runs. Mandhana and Rawal formed their third fifty-run opening partnership in four matches, laying a solid foundation for the chase.

Harleen Deol (20) and Jemimah Rodrigues (9) found it tough to build on their starts, giving Ireland a glimmer of hope as India lost three wickets for 46 runs. Nevertheless, Rawal and Hasabnis took advantage of some loose bowling to steer India to a comfortable victory.

Fielding Woes Persist for India

Despite the win, India’s fielding continued to be a concern. Missed catches and lapses in the field allowed Ireland to recover from a difficult position. Reflecting on the team’s performance, Mandhana emphasized the need for improvement.