India won the ODI series with a crushing game led by Jemimah Rodrigues

first ODI powering India to win over Ireland in the second match of the ODI series with a 116-run difference to win the series with one to go. With the backbone of a maiden international century by Rodrigues coming off 91 balls and amassing 102, India produced the highest ever total put up by them in an ODI at 370 for 5. With that mighty total, other batting majors such as Harleen Deol (89 off 84), Smriti Mandhana (73 off 54), and Pratika Rawal (67 off 61) chipped in with vital half-centuries. The Irish response chase never really threatened at any stage of the game, and though Coulter Reilly fought hard with a 80, they still fell well short of the mark at 254/7.

India's top-order batters continued their rich vein of form from their last series against West Indies, and their performances here in Rajkot were simply a continuation of that momentum. A searing opening stand by Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal who faced the PowerPlay at a flashing pace of 75 runs. Early on, Irish bowlers seemed short of extra deliveries and well-perceived boundary balls, which the opening duo capitalised on in full. The brief time when both batters were dismissed off successive deliveries was when India quickly regained control with a match-changing 183-run partnership for the third wicket by Jemimah Rodrigues and Harleen Deol.

Rodrigues and Deol displayed great composure and calculation as they shifted gears after taking some time to settle. Their partnership lasted for 168 balls, and though they were careful to reach their fifties, once they reached there, they went on a run spree that kept Ireland's bowlers on their toes. Rodrigues made a statement with her maiden ton, which she achieved with a boundary in the final over of the innings. In contrast, Harleen Deol was unlucky not to get to a century, dismissed for 89.

Richa Ghosh, coming in lower down the order, also added some quick runs by hitting a few boundaries to raise India's total as the innings came to an end. The task for Ireland was clear at 370 for India: it would take an effort of titanic proportions for them to get anywhere near that target.

In such batting-friendly conditions, the challenge was never easy for Ireland to overcome the massive total by India at Rajkot ground. However, the bowlers kept the disciplined lines and lengths quite well, thus putting back pressure on the visitors. An early wicket in the form of Gaby Lewis, who fell in the first PowerPlay, was a significant blow to Ireland. Their innings could not gain any momentum, although Sarah Forbes put up a hard-fought 38 off 63 balls; there was never much challenge for the Indian bowlers.

The Coulter Reilly tried holding the innings together with a sedate 80 runs off 113 balls but never threatened the Indian bowlers much; they were in control. India's spinners, Deepti Sharma (3 for 37) and Priya Mishra (2 for 53), played a significant role in not allowing Ireland's batters to get going much, and it was a very clever and effective spell by Deepti in marking her 100th ODI. With a target as large as this, the pressure was palpable, and it was impossible for the lower order to stem the tide as they made some shots towards the end of the innings.

India's bowlers, especially its spinners, kept the pressure all the way to close out the game for India. The Ireland bowlers, too, earned lots of extras, going as high as 25 from their innings, while India bowlers went equally naive and conceded 21 extras for their innings. However, there was never any doubt in the result, as Ireland's all-round performance was no match for that of India's.

With the series now confirmed, both teams will meet again for the final ODI on January 15 at the same venue in Rajkot. It was yet another clinical display by India and a reminder for Ireland of how hard it would be to counter the top teams.

Brief Scores: India: 370/5 in 50 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 102, Harleen Deol 89, Smriti Mandhana 73) Ireland: 254/7 in 50 overs (Coulter Reilly 80; Deepti Sharma 3-37, Priya Mishra 2-53) India won by 116 runs.