IND Women vs IRE Women 2024/25, IND-W vs IRE-W 2nd ODI Match Report, January 12, 2025 – Blogging Sole

IND Women vs IRE Women 2024/25, IND-W vs IRE-W 2nd ODI Match Report, January 12, 2025 – Blogging Sole

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Sleeves India 370 for 5 (Rodrigues 102, Harleen 89, Mandhana 73, Rawal 67, Prendergast 2-75, Kelly 2-82) against Ireland

Ireland were sent hunting for leather as each of India’s top four enjoyed their time with the bat without having to deal with the pressure associated with an international match. The end result was that India posted 370 for 5 after opting to bat in Rajkot, with Jemimah Rodrigues being the only one of these batters to convert her half-century into three figures.

Along the way, Rodrigues surpassed her previous record of 86 to notch her maiden international century in her seventh year as an Indian player. This opportunity may have only presented itself because India are missing their regular number 4, Harmanpreet Kaur, who has been rested from the series, and Rodrigues grabbed it with both hands. Harleen Deolmeanwhile, fell 11 runs short of what could have been her second ODI century in four innings, but not before sharing a 183-run stand for the third wicket with Rodrigues.

The innings began with India’s final opener, Pratika Rawaldisplaying a tremendous strokeplay to make the task even more difficult for the selectors who will also at some point have to re-examine the case of Shafali Verma as she slams the door with heaps of runs in domestic cricket. Rawal played a backward punch, the pull in front of square and a superb cover drive inside the first three overs to lay down a marker. Her offside stroke play in particular was a real treat as she showed off her rare ability to break through a crowded offside ring with regularity.

India’s urgency in the powerplay came not with blind work, but with impeccable stroke play, even as stand-in captain. Smriti Mandhana briefly played second fiddle in what seemed like a role reversal from the series opener two days ago. On this day, Mandhana charged out of the blocks, playing her signature shots, while Rawal strapped in.

This fusion helped India bring up their partnership’s half-century in just 7.2 overs before Mandhana upped the ante when she hit seamer Ava Canning for consecutive fours. The first was a whip to his hip and the next was an exquisite pull. The signs were ominous for Ireland who did not have enough balls to allow the new balls to swing.

At one stage, Rawal was 29 and Mandhana 24. But in a span of four overs, Mandhana comfortably outplayed Rawal to become the first of the two to bring up a half-century in the 13th over, by which time Rawal was still on. 36. Both men would soon accumulate their third opening stand of 100 or more in five innings.

Rawal followed suit when she stepped out to lift Georgina Dempsey over deep midwicket to conjure up her third ODI half-century off just 53 deliveries. The openers had put on 156 when Ireland hit back with two wickets in two deliveries. Mandhana spotted Dempsey at ringside at midwicket as she attempted to pull Orla Prendergast in front of the spot. From the first ball of the next over, the 20th, Rawal was off heavyweight playing all around a full ball from Dempsey for 67.

This brought Harleen and Rodrigues closer together as both men took time to play their shots against very slow bowling. Harleen struggled to find momentum early on, hitting 5 off 21 deliveries; Rodrigues was a bit more industrious at the other end of the pitch, attempting to move around the crease and thwart the seamers by playing pull-ups and paddles.

The pair bowled 75 deliveries to elevate their half-century stand, which Harleen lifted with a superb knock to mid-off. Rodrigues didn’t want to be too far behind when she hit Arlene Kelly for four consecutive shots in the next match; overs 32-34 hit five boundaries for India as they changed gears. Harleen perhaps played the shot of the day when she showed incredible control as she whipped a full ball from fourth stump to halve the gap between deep midwicket and long-on.

Ireland were let down when they missed Rodrigues for 34 in the 35th over when Prendergast missed a direct hit from the non-striker’s end at mid-off. Rodrigues was released a second time when goalkeeper Christina Coulter Reilly missed a difficult chance during Canning’s late cut attempt.

Harleen got fifty out of 58; Rodrigues got there a little slower, with 62 deliveries, before speeding up sensationally in the final ten overs. The purity of his stroke play stood out, with his signature hit moving the leg side of the ball making repeated appearances.

Rodrigues took just 28 balls to go from half-century to his first ODI ton, to applause from the entire team on the balcony, before celebrating by imitating playing a song on his guitar with his bat. India finished with 370 for 5, their highest ODI total102 fewer than in the last ten matches as Ireland returned relieved that their morning’s toil was over.

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