Mumbai, June 24: India comfortably beat Ireland by nine wickets in the only T20I between the two women’s sides.

Poonam Raut led the chase with an unbeaten 51 off 50 balls with six boundaries as India reached the target with 20 balls to spare. Although they lost opener Amita Sharma early with just seven runs on the board, Raut and skipper Mithali Raj ensured that there were no further hiccups in the innings. Raj remained not out on 43 off 44 with five hits to the fence as India reached the target without losing any more wickets.

Put in to bat first, Ireland set India a target of 108 at Haslegrave Ground in Loughborough. Debutant N Niranjana got the first breakthrough when she bowled Clare Shillington for 15. But Cecelia Joyce and captain Isobel Joyce added 67 runs for the second wicket until Archana Das removed the former for 35. She followed that up with the wicket of Joyce to leave the opposition on 86 for the loss of three. Melissa Scott-Hayward and Emma Flanagan were run out while Gouhar Sultana claimed Rebecca Rolfe. Kim Garth remained unbeaten on 13 as Ireland posted 107 in their allotted overs.

Brief scores: Ireland 107/6 in 20 overs (C Joyce 35, I Joyce 32, A Das 2/17) lost to India 109/1 in 16.4 overs (P Raut 51*, M Raj 43*) by 9 wickets