Women's World T20: Smriti Mandhana stars in India's 29-run victory in practice game against Ireland

Bengaluru: Hosts India warmed-up for the ICC Women’s World T20 with a 29-run win over Ireland in a practice match here on Thursday. In another match played here, Sri Lanka brushed aside Bangladesh by five wickets. Smriti Mandhana, 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. [caption id=“attachment_2669010” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File photo of Smriti Mandhana. Getty Images[/caption]   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 under lights in Bengaluru, Sri Lanka skittled Bangladesh for 95 with one ball to spare after electing to field and then surpassed the modest target in 18.1 overs. Nigar Sultana played a lone hand for Bangladesh with 33 as seamer Oshadi Ranasinghe claimed three wickets for 14 runs and Eshani Lokusuriyage took two for 17. Sri Lanka were coasting at 49 for one when Bangladesh fought back with three wickets in the space of eight runs, but Ranasinghe and Lokusuriyage teamed up again to steer their side home. Ranasinghe returned unbeaten on 18 and Lokusuriyage made 16 not out after leg-spinner Rumana Ahmed claimed three wickets for nine runs in four overs. PTI