In their first match of the Quadrangular Tournament Ireland women came up against a strong India team and will learn a lot from playing seasoned internationals.
Ireland senior women’s team got their Quadrangular tournament underway against the Indian squad in Potchefstroom on Sunday. With a number of team regulars unavailable, skipper Laura Delany has led a very much changed squad to South Africa via Abu Dhabi for this tournament.
India women won the toss and, choosing to field, kept the pressure on throughout the innings. There were no less than four ODI debutants in the team that faced India and the experience gained from three ODMs against top level England XIs in Abu Dhabi will have been added to here.
Aoife Beggs, Rachel Delaney, Lara Maritz and Leah Paul made their ODI debuts in a batting line-up that used up 44.4 overs before being bowled out for 96 in the first innings.
Jennifer Gray top-scored with 24, with Gaby Lewis scoring 20 and skipper Delany showed resistance in a 68 ball 14. DeeptiSharma and Ekta Bisht took three wickets each for India.
Rachel Delaney and Amy Kenealy opened the bowling for Ireland looking for wickets to check Indian momentum. Unfortunately, Sharma and opening partner Poonam Raut weren’t hanging around.
Captain Laura Delany tried everything to get a breakthrough, with debutantes Beggs and Maritz following Delaney. Game time against top international opponents will prove invaluable as the Irish squad grows its options.
An unbeaten 51 from player of the match Sharma and an unbeaten 46 from Raut guided India home by 10 wickets.
This young side are being blooded against seasoned, experienced internationals but are coming along in leaps and bounds for that. Next up on Tuesday with Zimbabwe in opposition before playing hosts South Africa later in the week.
Peter Boyd
No
Connaught
