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India goes 2-0 up

Christina Coulter Reilly steps up with career-best 80.

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RAJKOT, India – A more assured batting display by Ireland Women wasn’t enough to avoid a series defeat to India, as the home side went 2-0 up in the three-match series with a 116-run win today in India.

After losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, Ireland’s bowlers faced a rampant Indian top order intent on cashing in on a good batting track.

Half-centuries at more than a run-a-ball to Smriti Mandhana, Pritika Rawal and Harleen Deol set the tone, however Jemimah Rodrigues’ maiden ODI century off 90 balls out-shone her compatriots.

Ireland’s bowlers toiled in the warm conditions, claiming three late consolation wickets, but India was well on top at the innings break finising on 370-5 from their 50 overs.

Needing a positive start, Ireland lost captain Gaby Lewis early for 12, but Sarah Forbes and Christina Coulter Reilly set about stabilising the innings. Both batters compiled their highest scores of 38 and 80 respectively, in a confidence-building manner that demonstrated they were getting to grips with the Indian conditions.

Coulter Reilly, in only her fourth ODI, started shakily – being hit in the helmet twice – but grew into the innings and looked the most settled of any of the Irish batters. Scoring mainly on the legside, Coulter Reilly brought up her maiden fifty off 78 balls, then looked to push on once she was joined by an energised Laura Delany.

The pair put on 83 from just over 13 overs to push Ireland towards 200, however, both batters fell in consecutive overs, leaving the visitors at risk of being bowled out before 50 overs.

Leah Paul (27*) and Arlene Kelly (19) added late runs, and for the second match in a row the Irish side passed its highest score against India. During her innings, Paul became only the 7th Irishwoman to pass 1,000 runs in ODI cricket.

The two sides return for the third ODI on Wednesday at the same venue.