Celebrating Milestones: Jemimah Rodrigues’ Maiden Century and Record-Breaking Performance
A Historic Day for Indian Women’s Cricket
On January 12, 2024, Jemimah Rodrigues achieved a career-defining milestone, scoring her maiden international century in a thrilling match against Ireland during the second ODI held at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. Her remarkable innings of 102 runs played a pivotal role in propelling India to a monumental total of 370 runs, making it the highest innings total ever recorded by the Indian women’s cricket team in ODIs.
The Match and Team Performance
The context of this historic moment was underscored by solid contributions from her teammates. Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, and Harleen Deol each added fifties, contributing to an impressive collective score that highlighted the depth of talent present in the team. The opening partnership between Mandhana and Rawal was particularly remarkable, amassing 156 runs, followed by a sensational 183-run stand for the third wicket between Jemimah and Harleen Deol.
Jemimah’s innings marked not only a personal achievement but also a monumental moment for women’s cricket – it was the first time in India’s history that the top four players in the batting order all scored fifty-plus runs during a single ODI match.
Jemimah’s Perspective
During the innings break, Jemimah reflected on her long-awaited century, stating, "It’s been a long wait to get this hundred. More than anything else, I’m just glad that the team gave me a role at number four and I was able to live up to that." Her thoughtful approach to the game shone through as she expressed her desire to stay at the crease until the 50th over, demonstrating her commitment to contributing to the team’s success.
After achieving her century, which came off 91 balls with the help of 12 boundaries, Jemimah found herself dismissed in the final over of the innings by Arlene Kelly. Nevertheless, her contributions were significant enough to ensure India set a formidable target for Ireland.
Milestones and Achievements
Completing her 1000 runs in women’s ODIs during this match made Jemimah only the 10th Indian woman to reach this milestone, solidifying her status as one of the key players in Indian women’s cricket.
Highest Women’s ODI Innings Total by India:
- 370/5 vs Ireland, Rajkot, 2025
- 358/2 vs Ireland, Potchefstroom, 2017
- 358/5 vs West Indies, Vadodara, 2024
- 333/5 vs England, Canterbury, 2022
- 325/3 vs South Africa, Bengaluru, 2024
Continuing the Journey
Jemimah’s century not only celebrates her individuality but also serves as an indicator of the evolving landscape of women’s cricket in India. With performances like these, the sport continues to gain visibility and respect, inspiring a new generation of female cricketers.
The Indian women’s team is now on a remarkable journey, and with players like Jemimah Rodrigues stepping up, the future looks exceptionally promising. As they build on this success, fans eagerly await the next chapter in this story of growth and achievement in women’s cricket.
