Near perfect game for sure, says Smriti Mandhana after India clean sweep Ireland | Cricket News
India captain Smriti Mandhana hailed the bowlers after they skittled Ireland out for just 131 runs in reply to the home team’s massive 435/5 to win the ODI series 3-0.
“I’m really pleased that all the girls got a good game-time. As much you do it in the nets, going out there and scoring runs matters the most. The 100s and 50s from the batters have been really good. I’m happy for them and the bowlers also executed their plans well,” she said after the match.
“Near perfect game for sure, winning the toss and going into bat and scoring 400-plus is a really good achievement. One thing is that I told the bowlers to bowl them out in the 31st over and they achieved that,” she added.
Mandhana, who became the fastest Indian woman to score an ODI century, also talked about her intent to go all out from the start of the innings..
“It was pretty much planned today, not many matches you go out there and you start taking on from the get-go, the wicket was good and the outfield was fast. Sometimes it comes off and sometimes it doesn’t, I’m happy that it came off today,” she said.
India completed a whitewash of Ireland with a 304-run win in the third and final women’s ODI on Wednesday. Openers Mandhana and Pratika Rawal scored a century each to power India to their highest-ever total of 435.
Mandhana (135) and Rawal (154) shared a whopping 233-run stand to give a solid start to India after opting to bat. In response, Ireland were bundled out for 131 in 31.4 overs.
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