SaqTammy Beaumont may have been omitted from England’s T20 World Cup squad – not to mention mysteriously passed over for the captaincy on this ‘A’ tour of Ireland – but no one can dispute her status as the queen of one-day batting. That was demonstrated at Stormont on Monday, when she hit a record 150 unbeaten runs as England crushed Ireland by 275 runs in the second one-day international.
Beaumont’s century was her 10th in ODIs, making her the first Englishwoman to reach that milestone: surpassing Nat Sciver-Brunt and Charlotte Edwards (nine each). She now holds two of the four highest individual ODI scores for England – Monday’s innings not quite bettering her 168 not out against Pakistan in 2016.
“Since I was four years old, I’ve been told I can’t do a lot of things and I’ve proven a lot of people wrong,” Beaumont said. “I don’t have anything left to prove: I play for myself and for my teammates.
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“I’ve broken some records, but I don’t need to keep proving myself, I just have to keep playing and having fun.”
Unlike Saturday’s first ODI – a nerve-wracking four-wicket win for England – Beaumont’s innings ensured this match was hardly a contest. England hit 320 for eight, and under immense pressure on the scoreboard, Ireland then capitulated at 45 all out – their lowest total in women’s ODIs. The win means England have secured enough championship points to automatically qualify for the 2025 World Cup.
A dispirited Ireland had lost their three best bowlers in the first nine balls of Kate Cross’s first over. The England captain managed to get the seam moving enough to drop Gaby Lewis and trap Amy Hunter and Orla Prendergast lbw. At the other end, Lauren Filer had the unusual luxury of bowling on a Test match pitch – three slips and a gully – and exhausted the Irish middle order with her speed, taking three wickets of her own.
By the time England debutant Georgia Davis got her first chance to bowl at the end of the powerplay, Ireland were already 24 for six. The off-spinner duly took advantage of an easy catch, sneaking through the gate of 16-year-old Alice Tector before wrapping up the innings in the 17th over by trapping 18-year-old Freya Sergant lbw.
Beaumont’s strength as a player has always been her adaptability, and that was the case on Monday. First, she was forced to play the role of anchor: after greeting her opening partner Emma Lamb’s exit by looking to the sky in despair, she patiently scored runs. After 25 overs, England were 115 for three. “Every time I felt ready to bowl, we lost a wicket,” Beaumont said.
She then played second to Freya Kemp in a pair of 101. Kemp was very fortunate early on, having nearly collided with Beaumont in mid-pitch and having to dive to gain her ground. She took full advantage, pulling with ease as Ireland fed her a diet of short balls, to hit a maiden ODI 50 in just 37 balls.
Having not played in the first ODI, Kemp also bowled three overs, picking up two for seven – handy numbers for the left-arm seamer, who has been sent to Ireland by England head coach Jon Lewis to find his rhythm before joining up with the T20 World Cup squad in a few days.
Kemp finally managed to take a catch down the throat of a long off, but after scoring his 100 in the 44th over, Beaumont began his third act: it took him 117 balls to reach his 100, but he needed only 22 to add another 50 runs. England’s total passed 300 and Ireland’s hopes were dashed.
Saq
