END OF OVER:50 | 9 Runs | IRE-W: 254/7 (117 runs required, RR: 5.08)
- Georgina Dempsey6 (7b)
- Leah Paul27 (22b)
- Titas Sadhu10-0-48-1
- Saima Thakor9-0-50-0
An unassailable 2-0 lead for India and that is all we have from today's contest from Rajkot. Do join for the final game in a couple of days' time. Till then, take care, stay hydrated. Ciao!
6:53pm Time for the presentations
Gaby Lewis, Ireland captain: "We put on a total higher than the last game, that is a positive. Shows the future of Irish cricket, great to watch from the sidelines. [Coulter Reilly's innings] It was more about the fearlessness, shows more about the work the coaching staff has done over the years."
Smriti Mandhana, India captain: "We won the toss, chose to bat and the girls put on a clinic. Really happy for Jemi, Harleen and Pratika. Bowlers were pretty disciplined. Happy with the efforts on the field, we can work on the dropped catches but pretty happy. [On Rawal] It is a new partnership for the both of us, she has a mature head on her shoulder. She wants to stitch up a partnership, happy to have her at the other end. Singles and doubles are crucial and that has contributed in the 100-run partnerships. We have a massive role knowing it is a World Cup year. It is a new unit but they have experience in domestics, it is about trying to help them with conditions and field placements. They have the variations, slower ones, bouncers, it is a nice thing. Blessing as a captain to have that, I am happy to guide them when they need me."
Jemimah Rodrigues, Player of the Match: "I am relieved. I am used to scoring hundreds in domestic, [lack of centuries] was bothering me. [Batting in the middle order] sometimes you get a lot of overs, sometimes you don't. I had to get back to how I used to play in my U-19s, because I have played a lot of T20s. [The shift from T20s to ODIs] was a little difficult for me, because I felt I have not played enough. The No. 5 position is like T20 sometimes and sometimes it is longer. That phase is long - you have to take singles, rotate strike - and I am happy I was patient today. [On Deol] We had a conversation that we need to keep batting till 40th. We knew we could make up anytime. When I was slow, she made up, when she was slow, I made up. Not batted a lot together but we have played together, so we know each other."
6:41pm Another dominating show from India in a home ODI, thanks to fifty-plus scores from each of their top four batters. Rodrigues hit her maiden international century that propelled them to their highest ODI total. Ireland were not expected to get anywhere near 370. But here's the thing.
Ireland finished with their second-highest total while batting second in ODIs. This despite not having a rousing start. Forbes hung around for her fifty, a huge positive in the way Coulter Reilly batted for her maiden ODI fifty. Delany played attacking cricket and then Paul also showed the way down the order. Before this tour, Ireland's best score against India was just 170; in two successive games in this tour, they have bettered that and also managed to cross 250 today. A step further in the final ODI? You never know.
India have struggled to take wickets in home conditions and that should be a slight worry for them heading towards a home World Cup later this year. Yes, India are without Renuka Singh. But with Pooja Vastrakar injured, they will have to look at who their wicket-takers will be. In her 100th ODI, Deepti was the best Indian bowler on show, returning with three wickets. Do hang around for the presentation
Harleen Deol: "Very happy with the knock, could have had another hundred. Whatever god gives you you must take it instead of complaining. I was just thinking about increasing the team's total, was not thinking about personal total. Mid-off was up, but I did not get the elevation, it is fine. Jemi and I know our strengths, we could take our time. We thought about just being there. And if we are there, runs will definitely come. I am more fun that her while batting."
Sadhu for the last over