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India's women's cricket team achieved a historic victory against Ireland on Wednesday, securing their largest-ever win in a One Day International (ODI) match. The margin of victory surpassed their previous best, a 249-run triumph over Ireland in 2017, establishing a new benchmark in women's ODI history and ranking as the seventh-largest win by runs for any team in the format. This resounding victory was further amplified by India's unprecedented performance with the bat, surpassing the 400-run mark for the first time in women's ODIs. Their previous highest total was 371/5, achieved just a few days prior. This incredible feat underscores a significant shift in the team's batting prowess and strategic approach. The accomplishment is all the more remarkable when considering that only one other team, Australia, has previously achieved a 400+ total in women's ODIs. Intriguingly, four of the six instances of teams scoring over 400 runs have been against Ireland, highlighting a potential vulnerability in the Irish bowling attack or perhaps simply a confluence of exceptional batting performances under specific conditions.
A key component of India's monumental victory was the breathtaking innings played by Smriti Mandhana. She blazed her way to a century in a record-breaking time for an Indian woman, achieving the feat faster than any previous player. Her performance eclipsed Harmanpreet Kaur's previous fastest century, scored in 87 balls against South Africa. Mandhana's century, coupled with Pratika Rawal's impressive 154, cemented India's dominance. The partnership between Mandhana and Rawal was a masterclass in aggressive batting, with their combined runs adding to the remarkable overall score. Their partnership's run rate was exceptionally high, second only to a remarkable partnership by Amelia Kerr and Leigh Kasperek in 2018 against Ireland (though the partnership of Kerr and Kasperek was scored against Ireland as well, highlighting the fact that the Irish team has been on the receiving end of a number of historic scores). This partnership also marks a significant milestone for India, securing a place among the highest-ever partnerships in women's ODIs.
The sheer number of boundaries hit by the Indian batters further emphasizes the magnitude of their victory. With a combined total of 48 fours and 9 sixes, they achieved the third-highest number of boundaries ever hit in a women's ODI, trailing only two consecutive matches by New Zealand against Ireland in 2018. This boundary count serves as a powerful visual representation of India's aggressive and dominant batting performance. Furthermore, the match also saw an exceptional display of opening partnership. Both Mandhana and Rawal scored centuries, marking only the 13th instance in women's ODI history where both openers achieved this feat. This achievement is all the more striking given that six of these instances have occurred against Ireland, suggesting a recurring pattern of exceptional opening partnerships exploiting weaknesses in the Irish bowling and fielding. Mandhana's knock was particularly noteworthy, with six sixes, tying her with Harmanpreet Kaur for the joint-most sixes by an Indian batter in a women's ODI. This achievement contributes to the overall exceptional display of power hitting by the Indian team, who hit nine sixes, their highest-ever total in women's ODIs.
Rawal's performance in the match also deserves special attention. In her first six ODI innings, she has accumulated an astounding 444 runs, surpassing even Charlotte Edwards' record of 434 runs in her first six innings. This achievement highlights the explosive start to Rawal's ODI career and shows the exciting potential of this player. Only Janneman Malan managed a higher number of runs across both male and female cricketers in their first six ODI innings, underscoring Rawal's exceptionally rapid rise in the world of women's cricket. In conclusion, India's victory against Ireland was a landmark achievement in women's ODI cricket. It was a display of extraordinary batting prowess, marked by record-breaking scores, partnerships, and individual performances. This match sets a new standard of excellence and serves as a testament to the growing strength and skill of the Indian women's cricket team. The match also highlights the incredible consistency of the Indian women's cricket team, particularly in this series against Ireland. Their dominance in this series showcases a marked shift in the power dynamic within women's international cricket, and signals the team's increasing readiness to compete on a global scale, possibly even to rival the dominance of Australia at the highest level of international play.
Source: Stats - Mandhana smashes fastest ODI century for India on record-breaking day