Bouchier century drives England to record 282 chase over Ireland

England beat Ireland by six wickets in the first one-day international of the three-match series on 1 September 2026, completing a record successful chase of 282. England finished 283-4 in 38.1 overs, Maia Bouchier scoring 104 off 95 balls.

Ireland posted 281-5 in their 50 overs, with Gaby Lewis making 69 (89), Amy Hunter 62 (90) and Rebecca Stokell 54* (48). Lewis and Hunter put on 136 for the second wicket and Stokell’s late counter-attacking innings provided a boost as England’s bowlers struggled in the middle overs without Lauren Bell and Sophie Ecclestone, who are being rested.

Openers Maia Bouchier and Sophia Dunkley compiled a 143-run opening stand that set the chase alight, Dunkley finishing 73 (61) and reaching her fifty off 47 balls, her fastest in ODIs. Bouchier began cautiously with eight from her first 19 deliveries before finding the boundary off Jane Maguire in the sixth over; England were 72-0 at the end of the powerplay. Dunkley was caught and bowled by Cara Murray in the 20th over and Jodi Grewcock, a new face in the XI, reached nine before falling.

When Bouchier was eventually caught at long-on with 59 still required she had done the hard work, and a quick partnership between Alice Capsey and Freya Kemp finished the job. Capsey and Kemp added 54 off 38 balls, Kemp making 36 from 22 deliveries and Capsey hitting the winning boundary to remain unbeaten on 41.

Ireland were described as poor with the ball and sloppy in the field but their batting earlier impressed, and England’s attack lacked penetration at times. Cara Murray finished with 3-58 in England’s innings. Capsey, deputising for Amy Jones as wicketkeeper, took a fine one-handed catch to help remove Alice Tector for 11, while Ireland’s Wong bowled five wides in her spell.

Stand-in England skipper Charlie Dean returned figures of 2-44, and young left-arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman bowled seven wicketless overs for 53 as the pitch offered little for bowlers. Stokell’s fifty featured a moment of confusion when the umpire mistakenly awarded a boundary, forcing her to celebrate the milestone twice; she reached it during a fifth-wicket stand of 84 with Leah Paul.

The series continues at Derby on Thursday, with England leading 1-0 and two matches remaining.