A collective batting performance headlined by Jemimah Rodrigues’ maiden hundred formed the cornerstone of India’s commanding 116-run win against Ireland in the second women’s ODI in Rajkot on Sunday as the hosts took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. India scored a massive 370 for five riding on three half-centuries and a ton before restricting Ireland to 254 for 7 in the stipulated 50 overs. It was the elegant skipper Smriti Mandhana, who was first off the blocks with an attacking 73 off just 54 balls, while Rodrigues’ first hundred (102 off 91 balls) ensured a smooth finish for the hosts.

Newcomer Pratika Rawal (67 off 61 balls) and seasoned Harleen Deol (89 off 84 balls) also made merry on a sub-par bowling attack.

Ireland batted steadily but never had the firepower to surpass a gigantic Indian total. Save Christina Coulter Reilly’s 80, there wasn’t much fight from the other batters as off-spinner Deepti Sharma emerged as the pick of the Indian bowlers with figures of 3 for 37. Seamer Titas Sadhu got 1 for 48 in 10 overs.

Earlier, India’s total was based on two big stands — 156 off 19 overs between Mandhana and Rawal and 183 off 28 overs between Rodrigues and Deol.

In all, Indian batters smashed an astounding 44 boundaries and three sixes in 50 overs.

As far as Rodrigues was concerned, her record has been one that flattered to deceive with just six half-centuries across 40 games.

But once she got the boundary off medium pacer Arlene Kelly, the relief was palpable as she did a mock guitar-playing act with her willow.

“It has been a long wait to get this hundred. Glad that the team gave me a role at No. 4 and I could deliver,” Rodrigues told broadcasters Star Sports at the innings break.

“Today, the important thing for me was to be till the 50th over. Getting runs is not a problem, I am good at that, but being till the end was important and glad I could do that.” She said during their 183-run stand, it took some time for her and Deol to assess the nature of the track.

“Having Harleen there, initially we took time to assess the conditions. I know I can accelerate but while I took time, Harleen spoke to me to keep believing.

“We can’t take any team lightly, we have followed domestic cricket here, 390 has been chased,” she said.

Jemimah Rodrigues scored her maiden century in 50-over cricket as Indian top order pulverised a listless Ireland to post a mammoth 370 for 5 in the second Women’s ODI in Rajkot on Sunday. It was the elegant skipper Smriti Mandhana, who was off the blocks in a flash to score 73 off just 54 balls, laid the foundation while Rodrigues’ first hundred —102 off 91 balls – ensured a smooth finish for the hosts. Newcomer Patika Rawal (67 off 61 balls) and seasoned Harleen Deol (89 off 84 balls) also made merry of a sub-par bowling attack.

Notably, this is the first time in India Women’s 48-year ODI history that they have touched the milestone of 370 runs. The side first played an ODI game back on January 1, 1978 against England.

Indian total was based on two big stands — 156 off 19 overs between Mandhana and Rawal and another 183 off 28 overs between Rodrigues and Deol.

In all, Indian batters smashed an astounding 44 boundaries and three sixes in 50 overs.

As far as Rodrigues was concerned, her record has been one that flattered to deceive with just six half-centuries across 40 games.

But once she got the boundary off medium pacer Arlene Kelly, the relief was palpable as she did a mock guitar playing act with her willow. “It has been a long wait to get this hundred. Glad that the team gave me a role at No. 4 and I could deliver,” Rodrigues told broadcasters Star Sports at the innings break.

“Today, the important thing for me was to be till the 50th over. Getting runs is not a problem, I am good at that, but being till the end was important and glad I could do that.” She said during their 183-run stand, it took some time for her and Deol to assess the nature of the track.

“Having Harleen there, initially we took time to assess the conditions. I know I can accelerate but while I took time, Harleen spoke to me to keep believing.

“We can’t take any team lightly, we have followed domestic cricket here, 390 has been chased,” she said.

Aimee Maguire in action© BCCI

Pratika Rawal showcased maturity beyond her experience, while Tejal Hasabnis capped a memorable comeback, posting a fifty each, as India outplayed an inexperienced Ireland by six wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match women’s ODI series in Rajkot on Friday. Rawal anchored the modest run chase of 239 after stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana’s brisk 41, smashing 10 fours and one six for a career-best 89 (96 balls). Hasabnis, who last played an ODI against New Zealand in October 2024, struck her first fifty after her comeback, remaining unbeaten on 53 off 46 balls with the help of nine boundaries.

Rawal and Hasabnis put together a match-winning 116-run partnership from 84 balls with India winning the match with 93 balls to spare.

Carrying forward her dominant form from the West Indies series, Mandhana gave the team a fantastic start with a blistering 29-ball 41, studded with six fours and a six. In the process, she became the second Indian and 15th overall to surpass 4,000 ODI runs.

Mandhana unsettled the Irish bowlers with her attacking strokeplay on both sides of the wicket. Her aggression was particularly evident against seamer Dempsey in the eighth over, when she stepped out to hammer a boundary, followed by a six and another four.

Her rookie opening partner Rawal, who debuted in the preceding West Indies series, provided excellent support.

The duo shared their third fifty-plus opening stand in four matches, keeping the scoreboard ticking with ease.

However, Ireland managed a breakthrough right at the end of powerplay when Mandhana mistimed a slog sweep to mid-on, falling nine runs short of her fifty.

Harleen Deol (20) and Jemimah Rodrigues (9) looked in good touch initially, but clever bowling by left-arm spinner Aimee Maguire (3/57 from 8 overs) stalled India’s momentum temporarily.

The 18-year-old Maguire lured Jemimah into stepping out too far, resulting in a stumping when the batter was at least a foot outside her crease.

This phase saw India lose three wickets for 46 runs, but Mandhana’s explosive start ensured the team stayed well on par.

The inexperience of Ireland came to fore as they failed to seize the momentum, leaking 21 runs in extras.

Laura Delany was the weakest link in their bowling unit and she bowled successive no balls with two waist-high full tosses in the 24th over when Hasabnis cashed in on the opportunity to hit back-to-back fours from the two freebies.

Earlier, butter-fingered India let Ireland off the hook with their pathetic fielding as visiting skipper Gaby Lewis carved out a classy 92 to lift her team to a respectable 238 for 7.

Opting to bat, Ireland were in deep trouble at 56 for four in the 14th over, but Lewis and Leah Paul (59 off 73 balls) added 117 runs for the fifth wicket to steer their team to safety.

Lewis scored her runs in 129 balls, lacing the knock with 15 boundaries.

Aided by at least three clear dropped catches and a few misfields, the duo of Lewis and Paul went about their job in a calculated manner and brought a semblance of stability to the Ireland innings while putting together the team’s first-ever century partnership against India.

Medium pacer Titas Sadhu effected the first breakthrough for India when she induced an outside edge from Sarah Forbes (9) after the batter tried to play away from her body, and Deepti Sharma did the rest in the slip cordon.

Making their first visit to the country, Ireland were reduced to 34 for two thanks to a terrible mix-up that led to the run out of Una Raymond-Hoey (5), who attempted an inexplicable single despite hitting the ball straight to Jemimah Rodrigues at cover.

Orla Prendergast (9) was next to go as she was stumped by Ghosh off the bowling of leg-spinner Priya Mishra (2/56), leaving the visitors in a spot of bother at 56 for three in the 14th over.

Smriti Mandhana in action© BCCI