Jemimah Rodrigues Celebrates Maiden ODI Century in Style During IND vs IRE 2nd ODI

On Sunday, January 12, at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, Jemimah Rodrigues made history by scoring her first-ever international century in the second ODI against Ireland. Her amazing performance, along with a spectacular celebration, made the field look shiny and was key in bringing India a record-setting victory.

Rodrigues secured her first century after scoring fifty from 62 balls, and she did it with flair, taking only 90 balls to get there. She celebrated by taking off her helmet and acting like her bat was a guitar, which both fans and teammates loved. When she wrapped up, Jemimah had scored a solid 102 from 91 balls, adding 12 boundaries to her impressive innings.This important performance pushed her total career runs to 1,089 from 41 ODIs, hitting an average of 29.43. Her record shines even brighter now with six fifties and her first-ever century.

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India Women Set a Record-Breaking Total

The Indian openers, Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, got to bat first by winning the toss and they didn't waste the opportunity to demonstrate. They began things unfathomably strong, scoring 75 runs in just the first 10 overs. They built an amazing partnership, scoring a total of 156 runs together in 114 balls. This set India for a very big score.Smriti was doing extremely well, scoring 73 runs from 54 balls which included conjoining 10 boundaries and two sixes. Separately Pratika played a steady game and contributed 67 runs from 61 balls, including eight boundaries and a six.

After the openers left the scene, it was up to Harleen Deol and Jemimah Rodrigues to continue the work. They mastered it by putting together an amazing 183-run partnership in just 168 balls. Sadly, Harleen couldn't make it to 100, but still scored a solid 89 runs from 84 balls, hitting the boundary 12 times. Happily, Jemimah made the most of her chance and hit her first-ever century, which was definitely a highlight in her cricket career.India women did great by obtaining an extremely high score of 370/5 in 50 overs, beating their own record of 358 by a lot. With that basic summary, Ireland had a strikingly large challenge ahead because obtaining against India's strong and deep lineup was tough. Their batting was so perfect, it showed they weren't experimenting.

India's cricket team scored more runs than ever before, and Jemimah Rodrigues secured her first-ever century, having an amazing celebration, which made the game a special event in Indian Women's cricket history. This great work demonstrated their skills and laid down the groundwork for future important achievements.

ALSO READ:Glenn Maxwell's BBL Knock Mirrors His Heroics Against Afghanistan

IND-W vs IRE-W Match Preview

We're in the second game of a three-game series, and India Women are hoping to win the series after winning the first by six wickets. The hosts delivered a clinical performance, troubling Ireland Women with the ball and following it up with a solid batting performance. It will be a difficult test against any odds for Ireland Women, and they must give their all to win this contest. Ireland Women have never won an ODI against India Women, and they have to conquer a mental barrier to win and save the series. Their recent performance in the ODIs does not inspire confidence.

IND-W vs IRE-W Match Details

India vs Ireland – 2nd Match, ODI Match

Venue: Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot

Date & Time: 12th January 2025 at 11:00 AM IST 

Live Streaming: Disney+Hotstar

IND-W vs IRE-W Venue Stats

IND-W vs IRE-W Pitch Report

Both ODIs at Niranjan Shah Stadium resulted in wins for the team that batted first. It appears to be a bat-first wicket, with some help from bowlers in the later stages. So far, the wicket has been good for batting, with bowlers benefiting early in the innings.

IND-W vs IRE-W Weather Report

The weather forecast for the match at Niranjan Shah Stadium is sunny and clear, with temperatures ranging from 31°C to a low of 21°C.

IND-W vs IRE-W Last Five Matches

IND-W vs IRE-W Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

Also Read: Dhanashree Verma Shares Latest Instagram Story That Captures Attention

IND-W vs IRE-W Probable Playing XIs:

Ireland-W Probable Playing XIs

Gaby Lewis (c), Sarah Forbes, Una Raymond-Hoey, Orla Prendergast, Laura Delany, Leah Paul, Coulter Reilly (wk), Arlene Kelly, Georgina Dempsey, Freya Sargent, Aimee Maguire

India-W Probable Playing XIs

Smriti Mandhana (c), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Tejal Hasabnis, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Sayali Satghare, Saima Thakor, Priya Mishra, Titas Sadhu

Topmost Picks for IND-W vs IRE-W Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – India

• Harleen Deol – Harleen Deol scores her first international century, 115 runs in 103 balls with a strike rate of 111.65.
• Titas Sadhu – Titas Sadhu got a maiden five-wicket haul and put Ireland out for just 103 runs, winning the match by 211 runs.

Top Picks – Ireland

• Gaby Lewis – Gaby Lewis led from the front in the last game and was unlucky to have missed out on a hundred.
• Aimee Maguire – She bowled her ten overs for 46 runs, and while she didn't pick up wickets, her figures were reasonable.

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for IND-W vs IRE-W Dream11 Team:

Richa Ghosh, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Gaby Lewis, Leah Paul, Arlene Kelly, Orla Prendergast(VC), Deepti Sharma(C), Priya Mishra, Titas Sadhu, Aimee Maguire

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for IND-W vs IRE-W Dream11 Team:

Richa Ghosh, Smriti Mandhana(C), Harleen Deol, Gaby Lewis(VC), Leah Paul, Arlene Kelly, Orla Prendergast, Deepti Sharma, Priya Mishra, Titas Sadhu, Aimee Maguire

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Smriti Mandana, Deepti Sharma

Vice-captain – Orla Pendergast, Gaby Lewis

Wicketkeeper – Richa Ghosh

IND-W vs IRE-W Probable Winners:

Ireland Women failed with the bat in their last game. Their top and middle orders appeared rusty, and the team will need better performance from its batters to win this game. The Indians have a strong record against Ireland, while they also have a home advantage. The hosts will begin as favorites in this game. Considering the team combination, India-W is expected to win this match.

IND-W vs IRE-W Match Preview

Ireland returns to India after an eight-year absence, and they have yet to win an international game against India. However, they will be full of confidence after recent victories over England and Bangladesh (in the subcontinent) and will be looking for a win over India. India's team rebounded strongly against the West Indies, winning both the ODI and T20I series following their series loss to the Mighty Australians. Both teams will aim to win this match and lay the groundwork for the series.

IND-W vs IRE-W Match Details

India vs Ireland – 1st Match, ODI Match

Venue: Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot

Date & Time: 10th January 2025 at 11:00 AM IST 

Live Streaming: Disney+Hotstar

IND-W vs IRE-W Venue Stats

IND-W vs IRE-W Pitch Report

Both ODIs at Niranjan Shah Stadium resulted in wins for the team that batted first. It appears to be a bat-first wicket, with some help from bowlers in the later stages. So far, the wicket has been good for batting, with bowlers benefiting early in the innings.

IND-W vs IRE-W Weather Report

The weather forecast for the match at Niranjan Shah Stadium is sunny and clear, with temperatures ranging from 31°C to a low of 21°C.

IND-W vs IRE-W Last Five Matches

IND-W vs IRE-W Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

Also Read: Dhanashree Verma Shares Latest Instagram Story That Captures Attention

IND-W vs IRE-W Probable Playing XIs:

Ireland-W Probable Playing XIs

Gaby Lewis, Sarah Forbes, Laura Delany, Leah Paul, Orla Pendergast, Una Reymond Hoey, Arlene Kelly, Georgia Dempesy, Aimee Maguire, Freya Sargent, Alana Dalzell

India-W Probable Playing XIs

Smriti Mandana, Pratika Rawal, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Minnu Mani, Richa Ghosh, Tanuja Kanwar, Priya Mishra, Titas Sadhu, Saima Thakor

Topmost Picks for IND-W vs IRE-W Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – India

• Harleen Deol – Harleen Deol scores her first international century, 115 runs in 103 balls with a strike rate of 111.65.
• Titas Sadhu – Titas Sadhu got a maiden five-wicket haul and put the Ireland out for just 103 runs, winning the match by 211 runs.

Top Picks – Ireland

• Laura Delany – Skipper Laura Delany has been the team's standout performer, scoring a century which saved disgrace for Ireland Women.
• Aimee Maguire – She bowled her ten overs for 46 runs, and while she didn't pick up wickets, her figures were reasonable.

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for IND-W vs IRE-W Dream11 Team:

Richa Ghosh, Smriti Mandana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Gaby Lewis, Orla Pendergast, Arlene Kelly, Laura Delany(VC), Pratika Rawal, Deepti Sharma(C), Titas Sadhu, Aimee Maguire

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for IND-W vs IRE-W Dream11 Team:

Richa Ghosh, Smriti Mandana(C), Jemimah Rodrigues, Gaby Lewis, Orla Pendergast(VC), Arlene Kelly, Laura Delany, Priya Mishra, Deepti Sharma, Titas Sadhu, Aimee Maguire

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Smriti Mandana, Deepti Sharma

Vice-captain – Orla Pendergast, Laura Delany

Wicketkeeper – Richa Ghosh

IND-W vs IRE-W Probable Winners:

India has rested several key players, but they have a strong squad to face any team at home, and we expect the less experienced Indian players to perform well in this match. Ireland has no international success against India, but their recent victories over England and Bangladesh will boost their confidence. They will look to maintain their current form in this match and throughout the series. However, we expect India to win this match.  Considering the team combination, India-W is expected to win this match.

IND-W vs WI-W Match Preview

India Women won the second One-Day International by 115 runs, taking a 2-0 lead over the West Indies Women. India Women also won the first ODI in the three-match series by a massive 211 runs. The third and final ODI between India Women and West Indies Women will be played on December 27, 2024, at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. India Women demonstrated batting power in the first two ODIs, setting high totals against the West Indies Women. The bowling capped it off with some excellent spells, helping India win the series with one match remaining. India Women will look for a clean sweep in this third and final match of the series.

IND-W vs WI-W Match Details

India vs West Indies – 3rd Match, ODI Match

Venue: Kotambi Cricket Stadium, Vadodara

Date & Time: 27th December 2024 at 09:30 AM IST 

Live Streaming: Disney+Hotstar

IND-W vs WI-W Venue Stats

IND-W vs WI-W Pitch Report

Both ODIs at Vadodara's Kotambi Stadium resulted in wins for the team that batted first. It appears to be a bat-first wicket, with some help from bowlers in the later stages. So far, the wicket has been good for batting, with bowlers benefiting early in the innings.

IND-W vs WI-W Weather Report

The weather forecast for the match at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara is sunny and clear, with temperatures ranging from 31°C to a low of 21°C.

IND-W vs WI-W Last Five Matches

IND-W vs WI-W Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

Also Read: Pujara recommends radical changes in the Indian line-up ahead of Brisbane Test

IND-W vs WI-W Probable Playing XIs:

West Indies-W Probable Playing XIs

Hayley Matthews (c), Qiana Joseph, Rashada Williams, Deandra Dottin, Nerissa Crafton, Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Aaliyah Alleyne, Zaida James, Karishma Ramharack, Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher

India-W Probable Playing XIs

Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Saima Thakor, Titas Sadhu, Renuka Thakur Singh, Priya Mishra

Topmost Picks for IND-W vs WI-W Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – India

• Harleen Deol – Harleen Deol scores her first international century, 115 runs in 103 balls with a strike rate of 111.65.
• Renuka Thakur – Renuka Singh got a maiden five-wicket haul and put the West Indies out for just 103 runs, winning the match by 211 runs.

Top Picks – West Indies

• Hayley Matthews – Skipper Hayley Matthews has been the team's standout performer, scoring a century which saved disgrace for West Indies Women.
• Karishma Ramharack – She bowled her ten overs for 46 runs, and while she didn't pick up wickets, her figures were reasonable.

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for IND-W vs WI-W Dream11 Team:

Shemaine Campbelle, Qiana Joseph, Hayley Matthews(C), Deandra Dottin, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Priya Mishra(VC), Renuka Thakur Singh, Zaida James

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for IND-W vs WI-W Dream11 Team:

Shemaine Campbelle, Richa Ghosh, Qiana Joseph, Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin(VC), Smriti Mandhana(C), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Afy Fletcher, Renuka Thakur Singh, Zaida James

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Hayley Matthews, Smriti Mandhana

Vice-captain – Priya Mishra, Deandra Dottin

Wicketkeeper – Shemaine Campbelle

IND-W vs WI-W Probable Winners:

After sweeping the T20I series 2-1, India Women now have a 2-0 lead over West Indies Women heading into the series' third and final ODI match. This match is a dead rubber, but the West Indies Women have a little pride to salvage. India's batting appears to be much stronger than the West Indies', while the West Indies bowling unit has done little to stand out in the ODI series. We believe India Women will sweep the West Indies Women. Considering the team combination, India-W is expected to win this match.

In the second game of the three-match WODI series against West Indies Women, hosts India Women equaled their highest WODI total. Meanwhile, Harleen Deol scored her first WODI century, which was the third fastest WODI century by an Indian.

Leading the series by 1-0, India Women captain Harmanpreet Kaur chose to bat first at Vadodara. The Indian top-order batters slammed the Caribbean bowlers and scored 358/5 in 50 overs. In reply, West Indies Women scored 243 all out as the hosts won by 115 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series with one match to go.

Openers set a century opening partnership

Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal provided a solid start as they had a 110-run partnership for the opening wicket. After Mandhana was dismissed for 53 runs off 47 balls (seven fours and two sixes), which was her fifth successive 50+ score in the Indian kit, Harleen Deol joined Rawal. They had a 62-run partnership for the second wicket.

See Also: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Complete Fixtures Announced

Harleen Deol recorded third-fastest WODI century by an Indian

While Rawal was out after scoring 76 off 86 balls (11 fours and one six), Deol continued her dominant batting. Captain Harmanpreer Kaur scored 22 runs, but Deol had another big partnership of 116 runs with Jemimah Rodrigues. Deol completed her first WODI century in 98 balls and scored 115 off 103 balls with the help of 13 fours.  

After Harmanpreet Kaur’s 87-ball and 90-ball centuries, Deol recorded the third-fastest WODI century by an Indian batter. 

In the meantime, Rodrigues scored 52 off 36 balls (six fours and one six), while Richa Ghosh had a cameo of 13 not out in six balls with the help of two fours. 

India equalled their highest WODI total

While India Women scored 358/5, it was their joint highest WODI total. Previously, they scored 358/2 against Ireland Women in the 2017 Potchefstroom WODI. Meanwhile, it was also the highest WODI total for any team against West Indies Women, while the previous record was 318/9 by England Women during the 2019 Leicester WODI.

Hayley Matthews' century went in vain

In reply, only the skipper and opener Hayley Matthews produced strong challenges but didn’t get enough support from others. From 69/4, the visitors got some steady performances from Shemaine Campbelle (38), Zaida James (25), and Afy Fletcher (22), but none of those were enough for them.

Matthews hit her seventh WODI century as she scored 106 off 109 balls with 13 fours. 

Among the Indian bowlers, Priya Mishra picked up three wickets (3/49), while Deepti Sharma (2/40), Titas Sadhu (2/42), and Pratika Rawal (2/37) got two wickets each. 

India Women, led by Smriti Mandhana, end half a decade-long wait by registering their first bilateral T20I series win at home in the last five years. They do so by thrashing West Indies Women in the series decider by galloping 60 runs. In the process, India Women also complete their fourth T20I win against West Indies Women at home and 15th overall in 24 WT20Is.  

Prior to this series win, India's last series win at home came way back in October 2019 against South Africa Women. 

See also:  Major breakthrough for ICC as neutral venues to play host to all India-Pakistan matches till 2027

Mandhana's opens up on India's emphatic T20I series win

After receiving a brutal 9-wicket hammering in the second WT20I, the pressure was back on the Smriti Mandhana-led Indian side. With three consecutive series defeats against England, Australia, and South Africa in the past 12 months, the fourth white-ball home series defeat looked imminent.

But speaking at a press conference, the Indian skipper revealed that the team had a pep talk ahead of the third WT20I and sensed that they had the opportunity to win a T20I series at home after five long years.

“It’s been five years since we haven’t won a T20I series in India. That was the chat earlier in the day. We had the chance to do it after 5 years. Need to keep doing the right things now. With the kind of batting line-up, we have some new youngsters. So need to take responsibility. More than timing the ball, I try to put my head into playing according to the situation."

Mandhana was in dominant form with the bat in the series returning impressive scores of 64, 63, and 77. She played an instrumental role in steering India to a famous 2-1 win against West Indies thus putting an end to their bleak streak in this format at home. Her carnage with the bat followed by her tactical brilliance on the field saved the day for the home side in the do-or-die decider clash on Thursday. 

Mandhana lauds Richa Ghosh for her record-breaking blitzkreig

Both Mandhana and Richa were at their brutal best with the bat on the third and final WT20I. The duo launched a scathing assault on the Windies Women bowlers to power India to their highest-ever WT20I score of 217-4. Richa hammered a blistering 18-ball fifty and equaled the record for achieving the fastest WT20I fifty. In her short-lived entertaining knock, Richa only lasted 21 balls but went on to make a match-defining contribution of 54 runs with the help of three boundaries and five sixes.

Following the end of the match, the Indian skipper heaped endless praise on the youngster and lauded her for notching up a record-breaking performance at the DY Patil Stadium. Being conscious of the dew factor, Mandhana appreciated how her entire team worked collectively in all departments to negate that impending threat from dew.  

“Liked the way Richa Ghosh batted. The way the girls stepped up today, they played with a lot of intent. I wouldn’t have been able to that playing my second or third match."

India Women's next white-ball assignment against West Indies will commence with a three-match WODI series starting on December 22 at Vadodara. 

After a disappointing Australia tour, India Women started their home WT20I series against West Indies in a powerful way by securing a 49-run win in the three-match WT20I series opener. 

At the DY Patil Stadium, India Women captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and chose to bat first. While India Women scored their third-highest WT20I total of 195/4 in 20 overs, they restricted West Indies Women to 146/7 in 20 overs. 

See Also: Smriti Mandhana creates history with her fourth WODI century in 2024

Smriti Mandhana hit 28th WT20I half-century

Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Uma Chetry provided a powerful start for the hosts with 50/0. Although Chetry was out soon after the powerplay, vice-captain Mandhana continued her strong batting performance with Jemimah Rodrigues. They had an 81-run partnership for the second wicket. 

While Mandhana was out after scoring 54 off 33 balls with the help of seven fours and two sixes, Rodrigues continued her dominant batting. Mandhana recorded her 28th WT20I half-century, second most 50+ scores in WT20I history, just below New Zealand Women batter Suzie Bates' 29 times 50+ score. Also, it was Mandhana's sixth WT20I 50+ score in 2024, which is the joint second-most 50+ WT20I score in a calendar year.

Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh had a powerful cameo with 20 runs in 14 balls with the help of two fours and one six. Also, the skipper Harmanpreet Kaur scored 13 not out off 11 balls with one four. 

Jemimah Rodrigues managed her best WT20I score in India

Jemimah Rodrigues completed her 12th WT20I half-century in just 28 balls, which recorded her fastest WT20I fifty. In the last four overs, India Women added 40 runs. She scored 73 runs off 35 balls with the help of nine fours and two sixes, which was her third-highest WT20I score but the highest WT20I score in India. 

Among the Caribbean bowlers, only Karishma Ramharack shined with the ball as she had the bowling figures 4-0-18-2.

Only Qiana Joseph and Deandra Dottin produced some fightback 

In reply, West Indies Women lost their first two wickets before completing the seventh over. While the skipper and opener Hayley Matthews was out in the second over after scoring only one run, Shemaine Campbelle was bowled for 13 runs. 

Another opener Qiana Joseph and the no.4 batter Deandra Dottin had a brief fiery partnership which helped them to stay in the game strongly. They had a 44-run partnership in just 18 balls. Indian bowler Titas Sadhu, who already dismissed Matthews, timely dismissed 49 off 33 balls with the help of five fours and three sixes. Since that wicket, only Dottin fought hard but she couldn't get proper support from the other end.

Dottin scored 52 runs off 28 balls with the help of four fours and three sixes before Sadhu dismissed her to end the last hope for the visitors. Although Sadhu conceded 37 runs in her four overs, she took three important wickets to secure India's comfortable win. Also, Deepti Sharma (2/21) and Radha Yadav (2/28) bagged two wickets each.

Former India Women and Bengal fast bowler Jhulan Goswami is all set to get a new stand named after herself at the Eden Gardens prior to the start of the T20I series between India and England earlier next year. Following a proposal from the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), a stand will be named in her honor in the 'B' Block of Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Goswami is the highest wicket-taker in women's ODI cricket. The proposal to introduce a new stand was put forward by the apex body of CAB and it is expected to be in full operation by January 22 when India prepare to take on Australia in a T20I series. 

Here is how Goswami reacted to the news 

The former fast-bowling legend was filled with joy and excitement upon hearing the news. She expressed that she never believed such a development would be made possible in her lifetime. She hopes to visit the stand someday when its ready and looks forward to watching a match from there. 

"I never imagined something like this would come to fruition. I would definitely love to watch a match from there. For any cricketer, the ultimate dream is to represent her district, state, or country, but receiving an honor like this is truly monumental. A dedicated stand is a huge, significant honour, and it's only possible because of the CAB's vision to promote women's cricket. Words can't do justice to this recognition."

Additionally, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and international cricketer Pankaj Roy also have the stands named after them at the Eden Gardens. Besides, are also stands named for two former BCCI presidents, Jagmohan Dalmiya and Biswanath Dutt.

A look into Jhulan Goswami's past record

Jhulan represented India across all three formats and has finished her career with 44 wickets in 12 Tests, a world-record 255 wickets in 204 ODIs, and another 56 dismissals in 68 T20Is. With 355 wickets under her kitty, the Bengal-based bowler now has the most number of wickets in women's internationals. 

See also: Kohli’s road to redemption: Intense training ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

The ICC has released the latest Future Tours Programme (FTP) for women's cricket for the 2025-29 cycle, bringing several key updates aimed at enhancing the global profile of the sport. Among the highlights are dedicated windows for three major T20 leagues: the Women's Premier League (WPL) in January-February, The Hundred in August, and the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in November. This strategic scheduling ensures uninterrupted participation of international stars, thereby heightening the competition’s appeal and fan engagement across the globe.

ICC unveils new women's FTP with separate windows for WPL, Hundred, and WBBL

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also shifted the WPL window to January-February from 2026. This adjustment aligns with Cricket Australia's (CA) decision to reschedule its marquee international home fixtures, previously held in mid-January, to a February-March window. The 2025 Women’s Ashes, set to begin in January, will be Australia’s last home series during this time slot until at least 2029. Following the WPL in 2026, Australia is set to host India for a highly anticipated tour, featuring one Test, three ODIs, and three T20Is.

See Also: KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel head to Australia early for crucial preparation ahead of Test

ICC Women's Championship expanded and new T20 Champions Trophy announced

In a bid to expand the reach of women's cricket, the ICC Women's Championship will now include 11 teams, with Zimbabwe joining as the latest addition. This expansion follows the recent inclusion of Bangladesh and Ireland, underscoring the ICC’s commitment to growing the women’s game. With Zimbabwe’s addition, every Full Member of the ICC, except Afghanistan, will now field a team in the ODI Championship. The current cycle will culminate in the 2025 ODI World Cup in India, promising a highly competitive format with new entrants.

The ICC also introduced a T20 Champions Trophy, set to be hosted by Sri Lanka in 2027. This event is part of ICC’s strategy to have at least one global women’s tournament every year, with the Champions Trophy joining an already busy schedule of major events. In 2028, fans can look forward to the inclusion of cricket in the Los Angeles Olympics (August) and the T20 World Cup (September), which will take place within a 14-month period, offering fans an action-packed calendar of top-level women’s cricket.

India Women put up a brave fight but came up short by just 9 runs against Australia Women in a crucial Group A match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 at Sharjah. Australia’s win secured their place in the semifinals, leaving India’s qualification hopes hanging on the outcome of the Pakistan Women vs New Zealand Women match. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten fifty went in vain as India Women couldn’t chase down Australia’s total of 151/8.

Strong start by Renuka Singh in the powerplay

After Australia Women chose to bat first, Indian fast bowler Renuka Singh provided a dream start, dismissing opener Beth Mooney (2) and Georgia Wareham (0) on consecutive deliveries. This early breakthrough left Australia at 9/2 inside the first three overs. Despite the shaky start, Grace Harris and stand-in captain Tahila McGrath anchored the innings with a crucial 62-run partnership, steadying the innings for the Aussies.

Grace Harris and Tahila McGrath anchor Australia's innings

Grace Harris played a composed knock, scoring 40 off 41 balls, while McGrath contributed a quickfire 32 off 26 balls. Australia reached 37/2 by the end of the powerplay, but India continued to apply pressure. The partnership between Harris and McGrath gave Australia some breathing room before McGrath was caught out by Deepti Sharma in the 11th over.

Harris followed suit shortly after, leaving the Australian innings in a bit of trouble. However, stand-in vice-captain Ellyse Perry stabilized things further with her 32 off 23 balls, helping Australia post a competitive total of 151/8 in 20 overs.

Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma were the pick of the Indian bowlers, both claiming two wickets each and keeping the Australian run rate in check. Renuka finished with impressive figures of 2/24, while Deepti grabbed 2/28.

See Also: Mahela Jayawardene returns to Mumbai Indians coaching

Shafali Verma provides a quick start in India's chase

In response, India Women needed a strong start to chase down 152. Opener Shafali Verma didn’t disappoint, smashing 20 runs off just 13 balls, which included two boundaries and a towering six. However, her aggressive start was cut short when she was dismissed by Ashleigh Gardner in the fourth over.

The fall of wickets continued, as Smriti Mandhana (6) was sent back to the pavilion in the very next over by Sophie Molineux. India found themselves at 41/2 at the end of the powerplay, struggling to keep pace with the required run rate.

 

 

 

 

 

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Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma build a crucial partnership

With India Women at 47/3 after the loss of Jemimah Rodrigues for 16, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma took charge. The duo added 63 runs for the fourth wicket, bringing India back into the game. Kaur batted brilliantly under pressure, showing why she is one of the best in the world. Deepti Sharma also provided valuable support, scoring 29 off 25 balls, including three boundaries.

 

 

 

 

 

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Despite the strong partnership, the required run rate kept climbing, and Deepti’s dismissal in the 16th over by Molineux left India Women in a tight spot. Harmanpreet Kaur continued to fight valiantly, scoring back-to-back half-centuries, and remained unbeaten on 54 off 42 balls, hitting six boundaries in her knock.

India’s collapse in the final over

India Women needed 14 runs in the final over with Kaur still at the crease. However, a dramatic collapse saw them lose four wickets in that final over, including two crucial run-outs. Annabel Sutherland bowled the final over and picked up 2/22 in her four overs, ensuring Australia Women’s victory by just 9 runs. India managed only four runs in the final over, finishing on 142/9 in 20 overs.

 

 

 

 

 

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With this victory, Australia Women cemented their position at the top of Group A, having won all four of their matches. They comfortably qualified for the semifinals. For India Women, this loss was a huge blow to their semi-final hopes. Their qualification now depends entirely on New Zealand Women’s match against Pakistan Women. If Pakistan Women manage to defeat New Zealand, India will secure their spot in the semifinals. However, a win for New Zealand will eliminate India from the tournament.

 

 

 

 

 

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