Rawal, Hasabnis shine as India secures comfortable win over Ireland

Photo: Instagram/@pratika_rawal64

Pratika Rawal’s brilliant 89 and Gaby Lewis’s fighting 92 were the highlights of the first ODI between India and Ireland in Rajkot. India easily chased down a target of 239, winning by six wickets with more than 15 overs to spare. This victory gave India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Ireland, batting first, faced early trouble, losing two wickets quickly in the PowerPlay. Titas Sadhu made the first breakthrough, getting Sarah Forbes caught at first slip, and Una Raymond-Hoey was run out after a sharp throw from Jemimah Rodrigues. Soon, Priya Mishra struck twice in two balls—Orla Prendergast was stumped, and Laura Delany was bowled out, leaving Ireland in a tough spot at 56/4.

Ireland then found some stability through a 117-run partnership between Lewis and Leah Paul. Although India dropped Paul twice, the pair played carefully, combining both defense and attack, putting up a solid fight for nearly 25 overs. Paul was eventually run out by Harleen Deol after a patient 73-ball 59, which included seven boundaries.

Lewis, Ireland's captain, scored a well-made 50 off 75 balls and went on to hit 15 fours in her 129-ball knock. She fell short of a century when she handed a return catch to Deepti Sharma. By then, Ireland had recovered well from their early setbacks. Arlene Kelly added a quickfire 28 towards the end, helping Ireland to finish with 225, which seemed unlikely at one point but was a competitive total. India's debutant Sayali Satghare, who opened the bowling, took 1 for 43, dismissing Kelly.

India began their chase with a solid start. Smriti Mandhana, filling in as captain, hit a quick 41 off just 29 balls, including six boundaries and one six. She gave India a strong opening partnership of 70 runs. Mandhana fell off the last ball of the PowerPlay, caught off a top edge by Freya Sargent.

Rawal, however, anchored the innings, reaching her fifty off 70 balls. She stayed in the middle until India needed just seven more runs to win. Although Harleen Deol and Jemimah Rodrigues fell cheaply to Aimee Maguire, India remained in full control. Tejal Hasabnis then came to the crease and finished the job, hitting an unbeaten 53 off 46 balls. India comfortably reached their target with plenty of time left.

Maguire ended with three wickets, but Ireland didn’t have enough runs on the board to challenge India’s chase.

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