Maia Bouchier hits 104 as England complete record 282 chase against Ireland in Leicester
Maia Bouchier scored 104 as England completed a record one-day international run chase against Ireland at Leicester on Tuesday, reaching the target of 282 with six wickets and 71 balls to spare.
Bouchier, who had missed selection for the T20 World Cup in June, remains central to England’s ODI plans as the side reshapes following the retirements of Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont. England are contesting a three-match ODI series without Nat Sciver-Brunt (injured) and with Lauren Bell, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophie Ecclestone, Amy Jones and Linsey Smith rested, and the series has provided opportunities for younger players such as 21-year-old Jodi Grewcock at No 3 and the off-spinning all-rounder Mady Villiers, who has returned to white-ball cricket after two years out.
Sophia Dunkley began aggressively for England with 73 off 61 balls before she was caught off the leg-spin of Cara Murray; Bouchier, who had initially played second fiddle to Dunkley, moved on to a century and was eventually holed out to long-on for 104. After Bouchier’s dismissal Alice Capsey and Freya Kemp added a sequence of boundaries that took England to their target with room to spare.
Ireland reached 281 for five thanks to half-centuries from Amy Hunter, captain Gaby Lewis and Rebecca Stokell. Stokell’s celebrations were briefly premature when umpires ruled a boundary over fine leg had come off her helmet and been recorded as leg-byes; she was then given out lbw to stand-in captain Charlie Dean but had that decision overturned on review, allowing her to complete her fifty with 10 balls remaining.
A bizarre sequence on the penultimate ball of Ireland’s innings saw Stokell miss a ramp attempt, the ball strike the base of the stumps without dislodging the bails and then ricochet across the boundary rope, resulting in four byes and the innings finishing on 281 for five. Earlier Lewis and Hunter had combined for a 136-run partnership for the second wicket.
England’s bowling depth was again questioned without Bell and Ecclestone; the attack, spearheaded by Issy Wong and Lauren Filer, lacked penetration and conceded 33 extras including 20 wides, the second most wides England have conceded in an ODI in the professional era. In the field Capsey, keeping in place of the rested Amy Jones for her first full international as wicketkeeper, took a one-handed diving catch to dismiss Alice Tector.
The match formed part of the three ODIs England are contesting, with selection balance between batting and wicketkeeping and the strength of the bowling unit likely to remain focal points as the remaining games are played.