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Ireland Women put up a spirited display before losing to hosts India in their first warm-up game at the T20 World Cup.
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Pembroke all-rounder Kim Garth (3-15) gave her side an early boost removing both openers in successive deliveries to leave India 16 for 2.

Smriti Mandhana led the recovery with a superb unbeaten 73 from just 52 balls. She struck the ball cleanly, hitting ten fours and clearing the ropes once.

She dominated the third wicket stand of 72 with Harmanpreet Kaur (24), while she and Veda Krishnamurthy (26) added a rapid 46 from 29 balls as the run rate accelerated.

Robyn Lewis (1-13) was the other successful bowler as India finished on 147 for 4.

In reply Cecelia Joyce (5) went early, but a typically belligerent 21 in just 14 balls from Clare Shillington gave the innings early impetus.

A positive fourth wicket partnership of 38 in 32 balls between Cath Dalton and skipper Isobel Joyce put the Irish in with a great chance of a major scalp.

Dalton impressed with a fluent 37 from 30 balls (4 fours, 1 six) and at 86 for 3 with 8 overs left, Ireland were very much in the game, needing 61 from 48 balls.

However, Dalton’s dismissal was the catalyst for a major collapse as five wickets fell for 17 runs. They included that of Joyce (28) as the Irish challenge fizzled out, finishing 29 runs short.

“It was a great game, in which we performed very well for large parts,” said Dalton. “I thought in particular our opening bowlers up front desreve great credit. Kim Garth took crucial early wickets, finishing with those tremendous figures.

“In the batting some of the partnerships we developed gave us a real opportunity. On a personal level I was pleased to score some runs but disappointed not to have got us over the line.

“We will regroup and are looking forward to going again for the next game against Bangladesh on Saturday.”
World Twenty20 Warm-up game

At Bangalore, India Women beat Ireland by 29 runs

INDIA WOMEN 147/4 (S Mandhana 73*, K Garth 3-16)

IRELAND WOMEN 118/9 (C Dalton 37, I Joyce 28, C Shillington 21)

You can follow Ireland’s ICC World T20 campaign on www.cricketireland.ie and by following Cricket Ireland on Twitter @Irelandcricket, Facebook & Instagram.

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