Devine's 59-ball century sets up crushing win
New Zealand women 418 (Devine 108, Green 50, Maritz 4-58) beat Ireland women 112 all out (Delany 33, Petersen 2-12, Huddleston 2-13) by 306 runs
For the second successive time, New Zealand women sunk Ireland under a 400-plus total. And for the second successive time, New Zealand wiped out Ireland by over 300 runs. On Friday in the first ODI, New Zealand racked up 491, a record total in women's ODIs, and then crushed them by 346 runs. On Sunday, almost the exact same script played out all over again. New Zealand piled on 418, Ireland fared even worse with the bat, this time collapsing to 112 all out. Perhaps Ireland's lone consolation lay in the margin of defeat - 306 runs - massive, but a good 40 runs less than the demolition from two days ago.
Sunday's sequence of events means that New Zealand now boast the top three scores and three of the five biggest wins in women's ODIs, two of them having come this series, and today's win without the services of regular captain Suzie Bates.
Sophie Devine, who missed out on Friday, was the protagonist this time around, slamming a 59-ball century and getting to the landmark in just the 17th over of the innings. Not only did it set a launching pad, but it also covered up a middle-overs stutter where New Zealand collected just 22 runs in five overs and lost two wickets.
In a boundary-laden assault, Devine brutalised Ireland's bowling attack, pillaging 13 fours and six sixes. It was far from how she had begun, with 5 off 14 balls and nearly running herself out after a tap to mid-off in the fifth over. That reprieve was all that Devine needed as thereafter, she gave no more chances, tonking Ireland's bowlers to all parts of the ground. She put on 74 for the opening stand with Jess Watkin, who contributed just 23 and a further 93 for the second wicket with Maddy Green, who was the second-highest scorer with an even 50.
After bringing up her fifty off her 35th ball, Devine biffed six fours and three sixes off her next 24 balls for the second fifty. Immediately after the century, she struck a monstrous six over long-on, but one ball later, she lobbed the ball to short fine leg attempting a sweep. Ireland's bowlers made regular inroads thereafter, but New Zealand's middle order took toll on them, each making solid contributions and striking at over 100. Anna Peterson hauled them over the 400 mark with 36-ball 46. By the time Holly Huddleston became the last women to be dismissed, off the penultimate ball of the innings, New Zealand had struck 50 fours - amounting to 200 runs - only the third instance of 50 or more fours in a women's ODI.
Ireland made it a lot worse for themselves by sending down 22 wides and four no-balls. Not one of their bowlers went at under six an over - the legspinner Cara Murray feeling the worst of the carnage with figures of 2 for 96 in eight overs. Medium-pacer Lara Maritz took four wickets for 58 runs in 8.5 overs.
Ireland's batting was as insipid as their bowling. They lost Mary Waldron in the second ball of the chase, and it sent them on a freefall. Cecilia Joyce (26), Laura Delany (33) and Shauna Kavanagh (18) got off to starts but failed to make them count, while the rest fared even worse, not even managing double figures. A brief 32-run stand for the fourth wicket was the most resistance Ireland could muster up, before they lost their last seven wickets for 25 runs. New Zealand's bowlers shared the wickets around, but Huddleston and Amelia Kerr stood out with combined figures of 4 for 31 in 12 overs.