India will host Ireland Women in a three-match ODI series from tomorrow (January 9). Here are Wisden's picks of the best odds to back for the game.
India v Ireland 1st women's ODI: Who will win?
India, third in the ICC Women’s Championship standings, have already qualified for the Women’s World Cup this year for being the hosts. On the other hand, 10th-placed Ireland, having just won just three of their 16 matches, are out of the race to secure direct entry. The India tour will be the tourists’ final assignment of their maiden Women’s Championship campaign.
Having suffered a 3-0 series loss to Australia in December last year, the hosts turned things around by handing a whitewash to West Indies at home. In the history of Women's ODIs, both sides have played each other 12 times, with India having the upper hand with a perfect scoreline.
Overall, it's best to back India for this one, with a 1.06 return on every pound betted with Batery compared to Ireland's 8.50.
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India v Ireland 1st women's ODI: Which side will hit most fours?
India have named an inexperienced side with captain Harmanpreet Kaur being rested. Instead, Smriti Mandhana is set to lead. The squad still has plenty of batting firepower in Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma and Mandhana among others. Mandhana has been in stellar form as she leapfrogged Chamari Athapaththu to set a new world record for the most women’s T20I runs scored in a calendar year.
The key to Ireland’s batting will be Orla Prendergast, who finished as the side’s highest run-getter last year besides picking up nine wickets with her medium pace. A lot also depends on veteran all-rounder Laura Delany and captain Gaby Lewis, who had a decent series against Bangladesh.
India are heavily favoured to fit more fours in the series opener. Batery is offering a 1.10 return on every pound betted on scoring the most fours.
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