England women’s cricket team came up with a dominant performance in Belfast, to defeat Ireland by a record-breaking 275 runs in the second ODI on Monday. With this resounding win, England clinched the series 2-0, with one match remaining.
Tammy Beaumont was the star of the show, scoring a brilliant 150 from 139 balls, her 10th ODI century, to help England post a commanding total of 320 for 8. Beaumont’s knock, laced with 16 fours and one six, saw her surpass Nat Sciver-Brunt to become England’s leading centurion in women’s ODIs. Freya Kemp added a quickfire 65 from 47 balls, forming a century partnership with Beaumont for the fourth wicket.
Ireland’s chase never gained momentum, with the hosts bundled out for just 45 in 16.5 overs. England’s stand-in captain Kate Cross set the tone early, taking 3 for 8, including two wickets in the first over. Lauren Filer followed with 3 for 10, while Freya Kemp (2 for 7) and Georgia Davis (2 for 19) wrapped up the innings. Ireland’s Una Raymond-Hoey was the only batter to reach double figures, scoring 22.
The victory marks England’s largest margin of victory in women’s ODIs, surpassing their previous record of 239 runs set against Denmark in 1993. The final match of the series will take place on Wednesday in Belfast, with England looking for a clean sweep before two T20Is in Dublin on September 14 and 15.
“Cricket is a sport of ups and downs, and today was definitely a down day,” Ireland captain Gaby Lewis, one of three home batters out for a duck, told the Cricket Ireland website. “We are a very young squad, we’re learning on the go. We’ve got three bowlers under the age of 19, it’s very hard on them,” she added.
Beaumont, however, insisted, “I found it tough early on and Ireland were bowling tight lines with a slower pace on the pitch.”