The Indian women’s cricket team etched their name in the history books on Wednesday with a stunning display of batting at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. In the third and final ODI against Ireland, India posted a colossal total of 435 for the loss of five wickets in their 50-over innings. This remarkable achievement marked the first time the Indian women’s team crossed the 400-run milestone, surpassing their previous best of 370 runs scored in the second ODI of the same series.
Openers Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana spearheaded the historic effort with sensational centuries. Their opening stand of 233 runs laid a rock-solid foundation for the team. Mandhana, playing with her characteristic aggression, smashed 135 runs off just 80 balls, including a flurry of boundaries. Orla Prendergast eventually dismissed her in the 27th over, with Ava Canning taking the catch.
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Rawal, on the other hand, reached a significant personal milestone by scoring her maiden ODI century. She didn’t stop there, turning her ton into a monumental 154-run knock off 129 deliveries before falling to Freya Sergent in the 44th over. Rawal’s innings showcased a mix of composure and flair, cementing her status as a rising star in women’s cricket.
FIRST 400 FOR TEAM INDIA IN ODI HISTORY!
Rajkot is witnessing plenty of Records today. #CricketTwitter #INDvIRE pic.twitter.com/oIeD9qNd17
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 15, 2025
Richa Ghosh chipped in with a quickfire 59 runs, providing valuable support to Rawal before being bowled by Arlene Kelly. Contributions from Tejal Hasabnis (28) and Harleen Deol (15) added further momentum to India’s innings, while Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma remained unbeaten at the end, scoring 4 and 11 runs, respectively.
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India’s total now stands as the fourth-highest score in women’s ODI cricket, behind three New Zealand totals. This historic series has been a batting masterclass from the Women in Blue, signaling their growing dominance on the international stage.
