In the first ODI between India and Ireland at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, the visitors won the toss and elected to bat first. They got off to a false start, losing their first four wickets for just 56 before a 117-run stand between Leah Paul (59) and captain Gaby Lewis (92) took them out of danger. Some solid hitting from Arlene Kelly at the back end helped them post 238-7.

In reply, Indian skipper Smriti Mandhana, standing in for Harmanpreet Kaur, took the early initiative in the chase. She scored 41 off 29 balls, laced with six fours and a six to give the hosts a brisk start, losing her wicket off the last ball of the powerplay.

Her opening partner, Pratika Rawal, then anchored the chase with a well-compiled 89 and Tejal Hasabnis chipped in with 52 as India won comfortably, with 15.3 overs to spare.

Fastest to 4000 runs in women's ODIs

Mandhana's knock ticked her just over the 4,000-run mark in ODI cricket, having started the day with 3,960 runs. By reaching the mark in 95 innings, she became one of just four players to do so in less than 100 innings.

Read more: Most women's ODI hundreds in a year, full list: Smriti Mandhana breaks world record with fourth ton of 2024

Her contemporary, South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt, did it in 96 innings while Australian pair Belinda Clark and Meg Lanning top the charts – having reached the landmark in 86 and 89 innings respectively.

Mandhana also became just the second Indian woman to score 4,000 ODI runs, after stalwart Mithali Raj. Raj reached the milestone in 112 innings, and went on to finish her career in 2022 with nearly 8,000 runs to her name.