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Pratika Rawal continued her strong start to international cricket by scoring her second half-century in just four innings, leading India to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Ireland in the first ODI in Rajkot. Rawal, opening the innings, added 116 runs for the fourth wicket with her partner after a brief wobble, guiding India through to […]
Pratika Rawal continued her strong start to international cricket by scoring her second half-century in just four innings, leading India to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Ireland in the first ODI in Rajkot. Rawal, opening the innings, added 116 runs for the fourth wicket with her partner after a brief wobble, guiding India through to a solid win.
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Pratika Rawal continued to shine with a solid half-century, leading India’s chase against Ireland in the first ODI in Rajkot. Opening the batting, Rawal added 116 runs for the fourth wicket with her partner, Tejal Hasabnis, after India briefly wobbled when they lost Harleen Deol and Jemimah Rodrigues in quick succession. Rawal played a steady hand after forming a strong 70-run opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana, eventually shifting gears to build momentum in the chase.
Hasabnis, another debutant, showcased her attacking style, displaying a flair for hitting big shots from the outset. She scored a blistering half-century off just 43 balls, remaining unbeaten on 53 at the close of the innings. Hasabnis had previously been left out of the playing XI during India’s series against the West Indies, but she grabbed the opportunity with both hands in this match, filling in for the rested Harmanpreet Kaur and proving her worth to the team.
As Rawal approached her century, the focus turned to her performance. With just 21 runs needed for victory, Rawal tore into left-arm spinner Aimee Maguire, smashing two fours and a six to bring the target within reach. One of the fours was a beautifully executed inside-out drive over extra cover, followed by two towering shots down the ground. On 89, she attempted a lofted shot for six but was caught inches from the boundary by Orla Prendergast, falling just short of a deserved century. Despite her dismissal, India cruised to victory with six wickets in hand.
Rawal received a standing ovation as she walked off the field, having played a crucial role in bringing India close to victory. Her stunning strokeplay after reaching fifty gave her a chance at a maiden ODI century, though she fell short. Richa Ghosh came in to finish the job, hitting two boundaries off her first two balls to seal the win in the 35th over.
While Rawal fell short of her century, Hasabnis made a strong impression, showcasing her potential as a powerful middle-order batter for India. She quickly found her rhythm, smashing two consecutive fours off Laura Delany in the 24th over, which went for 22 runs. When Prendergast replaced Delany mid-over, Hasabnis continued her aggressive batting, hitting a third four through extra cover. The dynamic partnership between Rawal and Hasabnis helped India charge towards their target.
Despite the loss, Ireland had reasons to be proud. They put up a strong fight, with captain Gaby Lewis leading the charge, scoring a valiant 92. She was just eight runs short of a maiden ODI century when cramps ended her innings. Leah Paul provided solid support with an industrious 59, helping Ireland post a total of 238 for 7 after choosing to bat.
The partnership between Gaby Lewis and Leah Paul, who added 117 runs, was crucial in rescuing Ireland’s innings after a dramatic collapse. Priya Mishra, the rookie legspinner, had caused the downfall of Ireland’s top order, dismissing Orla Prendergast and Laura Delany off consecutive deliveries in the 14th over. This left Ireland struggling at 56 for 4, but the resilience of Lewis and Paul ensured Ireland regained some momentum.
India’s fielding, however, was far from flawless. They dropped four catches, which allowed Ireland to bat through the full 50 overs. Lewis was the first to be let off on 59, as Richa Ghosh failed to catch a healthy edge, using her boot instead. Paul too had several close calls, being dropped twice—once at deep midwicket by Titas Sadhu and again by Mishra off her own bowling after reaching her seventh ODI half-century. Later, Harleen Deol missed a chance to dismiss Arlene Kelly at extra cover, which allowed Ireland to continue their innings.
Despite these opportunities, Ireland’s batting could not capitalize fully. Camesos from Arlene Kelly and Christina Coulter-Reilly helped them add crucial runs in the death overs, but it became clear that India would still be in control. Smriti Mandhana’s blistering knock of 41, which included a series of pull shots, set the tone for India’s chase, signaling that Ireland’s total would likely not be enough to prevent a comfortable win.
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