New Zealand breach 400 again and inflict another hammering on Ireland

Another inspired batting display saw New Zealand Women rack up a second consecutive 400-plus score, briefly threatening the world record they had set just two days prior, as they again beat Ireland Women comprehensively to seal the ODI series with a game remaining.

It was Sophie Devine who did the bulk of the damage, smashing a 61-ball 108 on her return to the side in place of the rested Suzie Bates. The belligerent opener clubbed six sixes to get her side off to a flier and ensure the absence of their captain wasn’t felt too greatly.

After her, Maddy Green’s 50 was the next highest score, the youngster carrying on her Friday form - when she smashed 121 off 77 balls – in her blistering 36-ball innings.

When she fell, the White Ferns were 231/3 after 23.5 overs, and scenting another assault on the mythical 500, but though a series of cameos served to propel New Zealand, they lacked the second big score they needed to apply the afterburners and send them into the stratosphere.

Ireland deserve credit for an improved performance in the field too which saw them dismiss their opposition with the penultimate ball of the innings. There was marked improvement on Friday’s performance; today seven wickets fell to outfield catches while on Friday the drops were too numerous to count, and Lara Maritz, who took 4/52 today and 1/92 on Friday, was one of many bowlers who showed the benefits of the extra match’s experience.

However, although 418 represented an improvement for Ireland, it was always going to be a match-winning total; the only question was how many the White Ferns would win by.

New Zealand’s dominance in this series has been profound, and the superiority was once again evident with another supreme bowling display.

Mary Waldron was cleaned up with the second ball of the innings by Lea Tahuhu to make Ireland's astronomical task even harder.

Economical bowling from Tahuhu and Holly Huddleston bogged down the hosts, before Delaney and Kavanagh took it upon themselves to restore pride within the Ireland ranks, rather than be dismissed playing rash shots in an overly optimistic bid to chase down the mammoth total. Skipper Delaney, again proving herself the stalwart in Ireland's batting line-up, took on a similar role in the previous match, where she made 37 in 65 deliveries.

Delaney reached 33 from 70 deliveries before being dismissed caught and bowled by Tahuhu, and Kavanagh was trapped leg-before by Peterson for 18 from 40 balls.

The innings was wrapped up with more excellent bowling from New Zealand, the wickets shared out two-a-piece between Tahuhu, Huddleston, Kerr and Peterson. Watkin and Broadmore chipped in with a wicket each. The last seven wickets fell for just 25 runs, highlighting the strength and depth of this impressive bowling attack. Satterthwaite used seven bowlers, and all but one claimed a wicket in an all-round display.

Ireland reached 112, 306 runs short of the target, and it marked an overwhelming victory for New Zealand in the second game of this three match ODI series. Still there is much to take from these matches for the Ireland players, and although they won;t have enjoyed the margins of defeat, they will surely prove better players for the experience.