India secured a commanding victory over Ireland, winning by six wickets in the opening One Day International (ODI) match held in Rajkot. This match marked the first bilateral series between the two teams. Despite Ireland posting a competitive total, India chased down the target with ease, demonstrating a strong performance on the field.
Ireland set a target of 238-7 in their allotted 50 overs, with Gaby Lewis shining brightly. Lewis scored an impressive 92 runs, marking the highest ODI score by an Irish woman against India. This innings was particularly significant as it was her 50th one-day international match. With her exceptional performance, Lewis also became the highest run-scorer in ODIs for Ireland women, surpassing Miriam Grealey's record of 1412 runs.
"I'm delighted and credit to Leah as well. We stuck into there and created a partnership after a couple of early wickets," said Gaby Lewis.
"Coming from Bangladesh as well, the wickets were very different. It's just about adapting as we go. I'm proud of the performance that we put in today all in all," she added.
India responded swiftly to Ireland's challenge, reaching 241-4 in just 34.3 overs. Pratika Rawal led the charge with an impressive 89 runs, while Tejal Hasabnis contributed an unbeaten 53 runs to secure the win. Smitri Mandhana, who captained India in the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur, scored a valuable 41 runs before being dismissed by Freya Sargent.
On the bowling front, Aimee Maguire took 3-57 for Ireland, putting up a commendable effort against India's formidable batting line-up. For India, Priya Mishra claimed 2-56, ensuring that Ireland's batters were kept in check throughout their innings.
The Rajkot ODI not only showcased individual brilliance but also reflected the evolving dynamics between these two teams. Lewis' record-breaking innings and Mandhana's adept leadership highlighted the depth of talent present in both squads. The series promises to be an exciting contest as both teams continue to build on their performances.
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