Indian women defeat Ireland in one-day cricket by setting world’s highest opening partnership

On Monday, in the ongoing  Quadrangular Series in South Africa, India’s women cricket team beat Ireland for 249 runs by setting a world record of the highest opening partnership of 320 runs. Both the Indian openers Deepti Sharma and Poonam Raut have scored centuries in the process, earning 188 and 109 runs respectively.

Their record-breaking opening partnership is the highest so far not only in women’s cricket, but also in men’s as well, as they surpassed the existing record of 286 set by Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga against England in 2006.

The Indian team who batted first scored 358 runs in 50 overs for 2 wickets, while Ireland finished by scoring just 109 runs in 40 overs.

Deepti hit 27 fours and two sixes during her 160-ball innings to score 188.

With this match, Deepti Sharma’s 288 has become the second highest individual score in women’s cricket, the first being Australia’s Belinda Clarke, who scored 229 against Denmark in Mumbai back in 1997.

With four wins from four matches, India is the only unbeaten team in the tournament with wins over South Africa, Ireland (twice) and Zimbabwe.

Captained by Mithali Raj, India is on a 16-match winning streak and one win away from equalling Australia’s record of 17 consecutive ODI wins.