Bouchier Century Fires England to Record ODI Chase vs Ireland

England Women pulled off their highest successful run-chase in ODI history, reaching a target of 282 to defeat Ireland Women by six wickets with 71 balls to spare in the 1st ODI at Leicester.

Match Summary

Ireland Women: 281/5 (50 overs)

England Women: 283/4 (38.1 overs)

Result: England Women won by 6 wickets

Key Highlights

Ireland's Strong Total: Opting to bat first, Ireland posted an impressive 281 for 5 on a good Leicester track. Their effort was built around three half-centuries from captain Gaby Lewis (69), Amy Hunter (62), and Rebecca Stokell (51*). Opening Dominance: England's pursuit got off to a flyer through Maia Bouchier and Sophia Dunkley, who put together a explosive 143-run opening partnership off just 118 balls. Dunkley smashed 73 off 61 balls to set the tempo early.

Bouchier's Ton: Bouchier anchored the chase with her second ODI century, scoring a commanding 104 off 95 balls with 11 boundaries. Closing It Out: After Cara Murray (3/58) made minor inroads for Ireland, Alice Capsey (41*) and Freya Kemp (36 off 22) ensured there were no late hiccups, with Capsey hitting the winning boundary to wrap up the record chase.

Tilly Corteen-Coleman was expensive in her fifth match for England, coming after she had warmed the bench in the shadow of fellow left-arm spinners Sophie Ecclestone and Linsey Smith during the T20 World Cup.

With Corteen-Coleman having conceded 53 runs off seven wicketless overs, England skipper Dean deployed her offspin to prise out Hunter, luring her down the pitch with one that slid past the inside edge and turned onto leg stump.

Stokell had raced to 46 off 37 balls when and was still on the cusp of her half-century when she overturned an lbw dismissal to Dean, with replays showing the ball pitched outside leg stump. Having already celebrated her fifty for a four that replays showed had actually come off her helmet, she brought up the milestone with a single back over the bowler's head off Dean. who then bowled Leah Paul next ball to claim her second wicket.

England 283 for 4 (Bouchier 104, Dunkley 73, Capsey 41*, Murray 3-58) beat Ireland 281 for 5 (Lewis 69, Hunter 62, Stokell 51*) by six wickets