Records tumbled quick and fast in Senwes Park, Potchefstroom, South Africa as India Women registered a thumping 249 runs win over Ireland in the Women's Quadrangular Series match.

After captain Mithali Raj won the toss and opted to bat first, there was no looking back as India openers Deepti Sharma and Punam Raut put up a sensational show. The two brought up the team’s fifty in 79 balls and shared a 100-run stand in 149 balls. Punam got to her fifty in 68 balls while Deepti brought up her fifty in 82 balls.

The two then upped the ante as they brought up the team’s 150 in 185 balls and in only 46 more deliveries, raised the 200-run stand in 231 balls.

Deepti, who also bowls spin, registered her maiden ODI century in 126 balls with the help of 12 boundaries. In the mandatory second Powerplay, India amassed 49 runs, taking the total past the 250-figure mark. Deepti then got to 150 in 144 balls becoming the first Indian to get to the mark while Punam too brought up her maiden century off just 109 balls. It was in the 44th over that the two took India past the 300-run mark. The openers became the first pair to share a 300-run stand in Women’s ODIs.

All eyes were on Deepti but she fell 12 runs short of a double century. She was bowled by Rachel Delaney and her 188 is now the second highest individual score in Women’s ODIs. Deepti’s marathon innings lasted 195 minutes.

Punam was retired out on 109, but Veda Krishnamurthy and Shikha Pandey helped India to a massive 358/3 in 50 overs. In return, the Ireland openers shared a 42-run stand but once the first wicket fell, the slide started before they were eventually bowled out for 109 in 40 overs.

Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad claimed 4/18 while Shikha Pandey too three wickets for 16 runs. Deepti too picked one wicket to cap off a rewarding day.

Brief score:India Women 358/3 in 50 Overs (Deepti Sharma 188, Poonam Raut 109, Rachel Delaney 1/44) beat Ireland Women 109/10 in 40 Overs (Mary Waldron 35, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 4/18, Shikha Pandey 3/16) by 249 runs.