The underdogs needed 102 runs in 70 balls after losing their previous three games in the competition. India would have remained favourites, but they might have had to endure some nervous moments if the partnership between Gaby Lewis and skipper Laura Delany had lasted a few more overs.
The Indians had the advantage due to the disparity in fielding. If the Irish had been a little more agile and athletic on the field, it’s not impossible that they would have been ahead when the game was called.
The disparity between the two teams was evident on the first ball of the chase. Renuka Thakur’s delivery was guided by Amy Hunter just past the circle on the off side. There was an easy single available, but the two openers chose a risky second.
Jemimah Rodrigues ran towards the ball, picked it up quickly, and threw it to wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh. Hunter was well short of the crease when the bails were dislodged due to a slight pause between her and her batting partner Gaby Lewis.
The Indian fielding contributed an early wicket, and Thakur bowled Orla Prendergast in the first over to reduce Ireland to 1 for 2. The Irish fielders, on the other hand, were so sloppy that Smriti Mandhana would not have believed her luck.
The left-hander was dropped on several occasions, and the leaden-footed Irish girls were unable to reach her mishits in time. The left-handed opener’s 87 off 56 balls was the pivot of India’s batting effort of 155/6, with almost all other batters struggling to score at a run a ball.
It was only a crucial cameo by Jemimah at the end, after designated finisher Richa failed to trouble the scorers, that propelled India to their final score. She improvised to hit two boundaries in the 20th over, which could have been the difference between an Indian victory and a major upset.
Australia, the defending champions, has been the most dominant team in the competition and the women’s game in general in recent years. India has played them frequently in recent years, coming close to defeating them in the 2022 Commonwealth Games final and the previous T20 World Cup final, and even defeating them on occasion.
However, based on the evidence presented on Monday, they would require a significant update on their performance.
