Mithali Raj scored a brilliant fifty, as India Women comfortably defeated Ireland Women by 53 runs in a Group B match of the ICC Women’s World T20 on Thursday.
After being sent in to bat by Ireland skipper Laura Delany, Indian openers Mithali and Smriti Mandhana started steadily, as they both added 67 runs for the first wicket, before Smriti was dismissed by Kim Garth for a well made 33.
Jemimah Rodrigues who looked good in her brief stay, was eventually dismissed, stumped by Mary Waldron off Laura Delany for 18.
India lost their momentum in the middle stages of the innings, as skipper Harmanpreet Kuar, Veda Krishnamurthy and Dayalan Hemalatha were dismissed in quest for some quick runs.
The 35 year old Mithali, continued her good form with the bat,by scoring yet another half century, before eventually being dismissed for 53, as India finished with a competitive total of 145/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Her innings comprised of 4 fours and one six.
With this knock, she became the highest run scorer for India in the T-20Is International League.
Kim Garth was Ireland’s best bowler with figures of 2/22 in 4 overs.
Chasing a total of 146, Irish openers Clare Shillington and Gaby Lewis started cautiously, as the two put on 27 runs for the first wicket, before Deepti Sharma broke through by getting Lewis bowled for 9 runs.
Soon after Shillington, who looked good in her innings of 23, was eventually dismissed, stumped by Taniya Bhatia off Poonam Yadav.
Barring Isobel Joyce (33), none of the other batsman could come to terms and grips of the Indian spinners, and Ireland were eventually restricted to 93/8 in 20 overs.
Radha Yadav was India’s best bowler with figures of 3/25 in 4 overs, while Deepti Sharma claimed 2 wickets.
With three wins in three matches India have qualified for the semifinals. They will be facing Australia in the inconsequential match on Saturday.