Rajkot: India completed a whitewash of Ireland with a massive 304-run win in the third and final women’s ODI here on Wednesday.
Openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal scored a century each to power India to their highest-ever total of 435.
Mandhana (135) and Rawal (154) shared a whopping 233-run stand to give a solid start to India after opting to bat.
India became only the third team after New Zealand and Australia to post a total of over 400 runs in an innings in women’s ODI cricket. India achieved the feat against Ireland on Wednesday, January 15 after Smriti Mandhana and her young opening partner Pratika Rawal hit a hundred each. India smashed 435, breaking their previous record of 370, which came against Ireland three days ago.
India’s 435 was also the fourth-highest total in women’s ODI cricket. New Zealand holds the record for the highest total in women’s ODI cricket — 491 for 4 against Ireland in Dublin in 2018. This is now the highest total for India in ODI cricket as the women’s team broke the men’s team’s record of 418, which came against the West Indies in 2011.
Pratika Rawal, playing in only her second series for India, scored her maiden hundred. The 24-year-old psychology student from Delhi made sure she made it big by converting it into a daddy hundred — 154 off 129 balls. Pratika hit 20 boundaries and a six as she continued to impress at the top of the order for India.
Captain Smriti Mandhana, who is leading the side in the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur, smashed a 70-ball 100 — the fastest by an Indian in women’s ODIs. She also carried on and made it 135 off just 80 balls. Smriti was at her fluent best as she smashed 12 boundaries and seven sixes on Wednesday.
Richa Ghosh then walked out at No. 3. She hit a six and 10 boundaries for her 42-ball 59 before Tejal Hasabnis (28) and Harleen Deol (15) gave the finishing touches to the Indian innings.
India posted 435 for 5 in 50 overs 29 runs coming through extras as Ireland lacked discipline with the ball.
The highlight of the Indian innings was the partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal. The Indian openers added 233 runs, the third-highest partnership for India in women’s ODI.
