The opening match of the Ireland Women’s tour of India took place on Friday, 10 January 2025, with India Women taking on Ireland Women. After winning the toss, Ireland Women opted to bat first, posting a competitive total of 238/7 in 50 overs. Despite early setbacks, Ireland’s innings was powered by an impressive knock from Gaby Lewis, who scored a remarkable 92 runs off 129 balls, helping her team set a decent target for the hosts.
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India Women, in response, were off to a steady start, reaching 41/0 in 6 overs, with Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal at the crease.
Gaby Lewis: The Star Performer
Gaby Lewis stood out with a brilliant innings, scoring 92 runs off 129 balls, including 15 fours. She anchored the Irish innings after they were struggling at 56/4 following some early breakthroughs by the Indian bowlers.
Lewis found a strong partner in Leah Paul, who contributed 59 runs off 73 balls, helping to rebuild the innings with a vital 117-run partnership. Lewis displayed excellent composure, mixing caution with aggression, and was eventually dismissed by Deepti Sharma when she attempted a lofted shot but ended up giving a return catch.
Key Stats of Gaby Lewis’s Innings:
- Runs: 92
- Balls Faced: 129
- Fours: 15
- Strike Rate: 71.32
Ireland Women’s Innings Breakdown
Despite early wickets falling, Ireland managed to post a respectable total thanks to key contributions from Gaby Lewis, Leah Paul, and a quick cameo by Arlene Kelly, who scored 28 runs off 25 balls.
| Batsman | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaby Lewis | 92 | 129 | 15 | 0 | 71.32 |
| Leah Paul | 59 | 73 | 7 | 0 | 80.82 |
| Arlene Kelly | 28 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 112.00 |
| Christina Coulter Reilly | 15 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 57.69 |
| Georgina Dempsey | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
The Indian bowlers tried to keep things tight, with Sayali Satghare, Priya Mishra, and Deepti Sharma picking up crucial wickets.
Bowling Figures (India Women):
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | ECO |
| Sayali Satghare | 10 | 2 | 43 | 1 | 4.30 |
| Priya Mishra | 9 | 1 | 56 | 2 | 6.22 |
| Deepti Sharma | 10 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 4.10 |
| Titas Sadhu | 9 | 1 | 48 | 1 | 5.33 |
| Saima Thakor | 10 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 3.00 |
India Women’s Strong Start
In reply, India Women started their innings confidently, reaching 41/0 in 6 overs. Smriti Mandhana looked in good touch, scoring 19 runs off 18 balls, while her opening partner Pratika Rawal contributed 17 runs off 18 balls.
India Women’s Scorecard (6 Overs):
| Batsman | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Smriti Mandhana | 19 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 105.56 |
| Pratika Rawal | 17 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 94.44 |
The Irish bowlers, Orla Prendergast and Georgina Dempsey, bowled three overs each, but couldn’t manage to break through the Indian opening partnership.
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | ECO |
| Orla Prendergast | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 6.67 |
| Georgina Dempsey | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 6.67 |
Match Summary
Ireland Women put up a fighting total of 238/7, thanks to the superb performance by Gaby Lewis and support from Leah Paul. India Women started their chase well, reaching 41/0 in 6 overs. With a required run rate of 4.5 runs per over, the chase looks promising for India, but Ireland will be aiming for quick breakthroughs to stay in the game.
Gaby Lewis’s splendid knock of 92 runs was the highlight of the match, showcasing her talent and composure under pressure. While Ireland managed to post a defendable total, the contest remains wide open, with India off to a strong start in the chase.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting series!
