Maia Bouchier’s sparkling century helped new-look England cruise to a record one-day international target of 282 and a six-wicket win over Ireland at Grace Road.
Bouchier amassed 104 off 95 balls to lay down a marker with Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont retired and Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones, Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell also absent for the three-match series.
With Charlie Dean taking the reins in place of Sciver-Brunt, England were listless in the field as Ireland racked up 281 for five, helped by their hosts conceding 33 extras, including 20 wides.
Dean claimed two wickets, as did Issy Wong, although she was bizarrely denied a third in the final over of Ireland’s innings, the ball hitting Rebecca Stokell’s leg stump flush, only for the bails to remain unmoved.
England’s previous highest chase had been 267 against Australia in 2023, but any notion of an upset receded after a 143-run opening stand between Bouchier and Sophia Dunkley, who made 73 off 61 balls.
Bouchier holed out four balls after reaching her ton with 59 still required, but Alice Capsey’s 41 not out got England over the line in the 39th over after Freya Kemp contributed a breezy 36 off 22 deliveries.
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