IND W vs IRE W: Jemimah Rodrigues’ maiden ODI century along with strong innings by the top-order batsmen helped India bat first and post a huge score of 370 runs for five wickets against Ireland in the second women’s ODI here on Sunday.
Apart from playing an aggressive innings of 73 runs in 54 balls, captain Smriti Mandhana gave a fast start to India by making a partnership of 156 runs in 114 balls with Pratika Rawal (67 runs in 60 balls) for the first wicket.
Jemima hit 12 fours in her innings of 102 runs in 91 balls. He made a big partnership of 183 runs in 168 balls for the third wicket with Harleen Deol (89 runs on 84 balls) and ensured the team’s big score. Indian batsmen took advantage of Ireland’s weak bowling and hit 44 fours and three sixes in 50 overs.
Jemima had to wait for 41 matches to score her century in ODIs. Before this he has six half-centuries to his name. He completed his century by hitting a four against medium pace bowler Arlene Kelly and then celebrated it by making a guitar-playing gesture with his bat. After this century, he told the match broadcaster (Sports 18), “I had to wait a long time to complete this century. Happy that the team gave me the role at number four and I could perform well.
He said, “Today it was important for me to stay at the crease till the 50th over. Scoring runs is not a problem for me, I am in the rhythm of it but it was important to stay at the crease till the end and I am glad I could do that. For Ireland, Kelly and Orla Prendergast got two wickets each while Georgina Dempsey got one wicket. Got success.
