England completed a 3-0 ODI series sweep over Ireland with a 114-run win at New Road in Worcester, defending 291 after being put in to bat.
Sophia Dunkley, the Player of the Match, anchored the innings with a composed 119 off 119 balls, hitting 15 fours. She shared a 110-run partnership for the second wicket with Jodi Grewcock, who made 35 after opener Maia Bouchier had provided an early boost with 39.
England were 214 for 4 when Dunkley fell in the 36th over, but Danielle Gibson’s 41 off 37 and Freya Kemp’s 23 helped them push ahead before they were bowled out for 291 in 48.5 overs. Ireland’s Cara Murray took four wickets for 56.
Ireland began positively in the chase but lost captain Gaby Lewis for 16 early in the fifth over. Alice Tector and Amy Hunter then put together 56 for the second wicket, the innings’ biggest partnership, before Tector was bowled by Tilly Corteen-Coleman in the 20th over.
Hunter then continued the rebuild with Orla Prendergast, the pair adding 27. Orla, who was playing her 50th ODI, was involved in another 20-run stand with Rebecca Stokell before falling to Mady Villiers in the 34th over, becoming her second victim.
Post that, Louise Little and Leah Paul added quick 34 for the sixth wicket but they were left with too much to do. England kept breaking the partnerships and the final four stands produced only 4, 0, 4 and 2 runs, with Ireland eventually bowled out for only 177 in 44.2 overs.
Lauren Filer and Mady Villiers finished with three-wicket hauls. The match also marked Arlene Kelly’s final international appearance before retiring from international cricket.
Brief Scores: England 291 in 48.5 overs (Sophia Dunkley 119, Danielle Gibson 41; Cara Murray 4-56) beat Ireland 177 in 44.2 overs (Amy Hunter 39, Alice Tector 29; Lauren Filer 3-27, Mady Villiers 3-33) by 114 runs.
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