Colombo: India scored a comprehensive 125-run victory over Ireland to post their third consecutive win in Group A and sealed a placed in the Super Six stage of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Colombo on Friday.
Having scored a challenging 250 for two, India bundled out Ireland for a meager 125 in 49.1 overs.
India opener Thirush Kamini struck a career-best 113 not out with the help of 11 boundaries and four sixes as she figured prominently in a 174-run opening stand with Deepti Sharma (89), who notched up her second half-century of the tournament.
The left-handed pair batted close to 40 overs in what was India’s first opening century-stand in ODIs in close to four years. Ireland, which had lost to Sri Lanka earlier in the league, faltered in their run chase with India leg-spinner Poonam Yadav finishing with impressive figures of three for 30.
Gaby Lewis (33) and Isobel Joyce (31) could only prolong the inevitable in sultry weather.
The Indian eves, who lead the Group A standings, previously defeated Sri Lanka and Thailand. They are scheduled to play Zimbabwe on February 13.
“Getting a hundred for India is always special. It was really satisfying to get runs today when the team required a good opening partnership. The ball was not coming on to the bat later in the innings, so getting runs was not easy. I’d gone into the match aiming to get runs at a fair pace and succeeded in that,” Kamini said.
score board
India Women innings
DB Sharma c IMHC Joyce b Garth 89
MDT Kamini not out 113
V Krishnamurthy c CNIM Joyce b IMHC Joyce 11
H Kaur not out 20
Extras 17
Total 250/2
Ireland Women innings
SM Kavanagh lbw b Pandey 00
CNIM Joyce run out (Joshi/†Verma) 04
KJ Garth b Pandey 02
L Delany* lbw b Bisht 21
IMHC Joyce st †Krishnamurthy b Poonam Yadav 31
GH Lewis b Poonam Yadav 33
CMA Shillington c Joshi b Poonam Yadav 00
MV Waldron† c Vaidya b Bisht 05
AJ Kenealy b Vaidya 20
LN McCarthy st †Verma b Vaidya 05
CJ Metcalfe not out 00
Extras 04
Total 125/10