Backed by two big hundreds, New Zealand Women amassed 490-4 – the highest total in all ODI cricket – to smash records and Ireland Women by 346 runs in Dublin.
They threatened to break the 500-run barrier when they were 471 in 49 overs, but 17-year-old Amelia Kerr was restricted to just three fours. In doing so, New Zealand broke their highest total of 455-5 against Pakistan in Christchurch in 1997.
New Zealand are starting a tour which will include a triangular tournament with England and South Africa later this month.
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Captain Suzie Bates and No 3 Maddy Green set the tone for New Zealand’s mammoth score with quickfire centuries – 151 off 94 balls and 121 off 77 balls respectively. Bates and debutant Jess Watkin started with a blistering 172-run opening partnership off 18.5 overs at a run rate of 9.13. The stand ended when Rachel Delaney, a substitute fielder, pulled off a stunning one-handed catch at deep square leg to dismiss Watkin for 62 off 59 balls.
Bates, who was on 89 off 59 balls then, went on to score her 10th ODI hundred, off only 71 balls. Only Australia captain Meg Lanning (11) has more ODI centuries than Bates.
In response, Ireland folded for 144 in 35.3 overs.
Bates attributes the stunning success to a good wicket and the influence of T20.
‘It was due to the way the girls got going. The way young girls are coming into the side, and they train to play like that because they want to be a part of Twenty20 cricket and the Big Bash and so they work on their shots and they know it’s a power game now.’
Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix
