India’s Deepti Sharma and Poonam Raut shared a record 320-run opening partnership on 15 May as India racked up a commanding 358/3 after skipper Mithali Raj won the toss and decided to bat first against Ireland in the quadrangular series in Potchefstroom, South Africa.
The pair became the first to get past the 300-run mark in the women’s ODI format.
Nineteen-year-old Deepti Sharma from Uttar Pradesh produced a stunning 188-run knock, the second highest score in women's One Day Internationals, to set up India's massive 249-run win.
Deepti’s 160-ball innings was studded with 27 boundaries and two sixes, while Poonam hit 11 fours to make 109 runs in 116 balls at the Senwes Park.
Deepti is now only behind Australia's Belinda Clarke who had cracked an unbeaten 229 against Denmark in 1997 at Mumbai. The knock is the best by an Indian as she bettered the unbeaten 138 by Jaya Sharma against Pakistan in 2005.
Several senior players congratulated the duo on Twitter:
India bundled out Ireland for a paltry 109 in 40 overs to hand the rivals an embarrassing defeat.
Ireland never looked in the chase as they scored the first fifty in 18.4 overs, losing the wicket of opener Leah Paul (13) in the 17th over. From there on, Ireland kept losing wickets and lost half their side by the 30th over for 75 runs.
Their downhill slide continued as they managed to bring up the team hundred in the 37th over before India quickly mopped up the tail.
Mary Waldron (35) was the top-scorer for Ireland, while Jennifer Gray contributed with a 46-ball 26 as only four cricketers could reach double digits.
Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad (4/18) scalped four wickets, while Shikha Pandey (3/16), who had provided the late charge with a 14-ball 27 for India, took three wickets, and DB Sharma (1/15) took one.
Earlier, Ireland put up a disappointing bowling performance as they were taken to the cleaners by the Indian duo of Deepti and Poonam.
Rachel Delaney (1/44) claimed the only wicket by an Ireland bowler when she ended Deepti's innings in the 46th over. Poonam too retired hurt in the last ball of that over.
Ireland's poor show reflected in the number of extra runs they conceded. They bowled as many as 23 wides to gift away 26 extras.
(With inputs from PTI.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)