Experimental England storm to highest ODI chase in win over Ireland

England beat Ireland in first ODI as Maia Bouchier scores century in team's highest run chase in the format Maia Bouchier scores second ODI hundred as England reach target of 282 with 71 balls to spare to take 1-0 lead in three-match series; home side - who have rested key players including Nat Sciver-Brunt - sloppy with the ball and in the field; second ODI in Derby on Thursday (1pm start) Tuesday 1 September 2026 19:33, UK England breezed to their highest successful ODI chase after an iffy fielding and bowling performance as an experimental side beat Ireland by six wickets in the series opener at Leicester. Maia Bouchier (104 off 95 balls) and Sopha Dunkley (73 off 61) smoked 143 for the opening wicket inside 20 overs before Bouchier went on to notch her second ODI century as England reached their target of 282 with 71 deliveries to spare. Freya Kemp (36 off 22) drilled four fours in a row off Arlene Kelly in the 34th over - a feat Bouchier had managed off Jane Maguire towards the start of the chase - as the all-rounder dominated a 54-run partnership from 38 balls with Alice Capsey (41no off 40), after Capsey and Bouchier had combined to add 50 off 47. - Scorecard: England vs Ireland, first ODI, Leicester - Latest Sky Sports deals or stream no contract - What cricket is live on Sky Sports and when? England's previous record ODI run chase was the 267-8 they knocked off against Australia in Bristol during the home Ashes in 2023, a game in which Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont posted the two highest scores. With Knight and Beaumont now retired and team stalwarts Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt Hodge and Amy Jones rested for this three-match assignment, Dunkley and Bouchier played the key roles, albeit aided by some error-strewn stuff from Ireland. The tourists offered up way too many boundary balls and were also guilty of mis-fields as they slipped 1-0 down in a series that continues in Derby on Thursday (1pm) and then concludes in Worcester on Sunday (10.30am), with both games live on Sky Sports. More to follow.