SaqEngland secured a record 275-run win over Ireland as the hosts were bowled out for just 45 runs in the second ODI in Belfast.
Two days after England won the opening match, Tammy Beaumont put her team back on the map with a brilliant unbeaten 150 at the top of the table – her 10th ODI century.
Freya Kemp added 65 as Ireland were set a daunting target of 321 to win, and England’s bowlers then tore the home side apart to claim victory in 17 overs, with stand-in captain Kate Cross and Lauren Filer each taking three wickets.
The win, the England women’s team’s biggest ODI in terms of points, sees them clinch the series with one match to spare.
England fielded a largely second-rate side in Belfast, with the majority of their T20 World Cup squad not taking part.
But the visitors, who won the toss and elected to bat, were in control after Beaumont’s brilliant knock of 150 from 139 balls – which included 16 boundaries and a six – was backed up by Kemp’s 65 from 47 deliveries.
Ireland faced such a challenge and England made a fast start to the match with Cross dismissing both home captain Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter in the first over.
Cross (three for eight) made her return in her second over, taking her ninth wicket of the series so far, when she trapped the dangerous Orla Prendergast lbw to leave Ireland at seven for three. That quickly became eight for four in just the fourth over when Leah Paul found herself behind to Filer.
Filer (three for 10) then had his second and third of the afternoon after Rebecca Stokell’s error fell to Beaumont at slip before a yorker sent Arlene Kelly packing in the same over for a duck.
Georgia Davis took her first international wicket on debut, with Kemp then dismissing opener Una Raymond-Hoey for 22 – the only Irish batsman to reach double figures.
Kemp trapped Jane Maguire, with Davis dismissing her sister Aimee Maguire, as Ireland were bowled out for 45, their lowest ever ODI total. The final match is at Stormont on Wednesday.
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