World T20 warm-up: Smriti shines as Indian women beat Ireland

Host India warmed-up for the International Cricket Council Women’s World T20 with a 29-run win over Ireland in a practice match, in Bengaluru, on Thursday.

Smriti Mandhana, a 19-year-old left-hander from Mumbai, hit an unbeaten 73 off 52 balls to lift India to 147 for four after home team captain Mithali Raj won the toss and elected to bat.

Mandhana, who hit 10 boundaries and a six, put on 72 for the third wicket with Harmanpreet Kaur (24) after wickets off successive deliveries by Kim Garth had reduced India to 16 for two in the third over.

Ireland managed only 118 for nine in reply with Cath Delton making 37 off 30 balls and skipper Isobel Joyce chipping in with 28.

India medium fast bowlers Shikha Pandey and Niranjan Nagarajan picked up two wickets each.

In another match played, Sri Lanka brushed aside Bangladesh by five wickets.