Bates, Green lead New Zealand to the highest ever total in ODI cricket

New Zealand have created history, by posting the highest ever total in ODI cricket of all time, in the 1st ODI against Ireland in Dublin.

New Zealand got to a flying start, which led to them scoring a mammoth total 490 runs, to post the highest total of all time in the ODI's.

A solid start was given by the opening pair of Suzie Bates and Jess Watkin, with the duo putting up a partnership of 172 runs for the 1st wicket. Suzie Bates struck the ball with consistency and grace, as she scored the 1oth century in her career in just 71 balls, while simultaneously becoming the top ODI runs scorer for the White Ferns. Bates is the 2nd player ever, after Australian Meg Lanning, to score 10 centuries in her ODI career.

Maddy Green also joined the captain, to power the score further as she scored her maiden century off 62 balls. Jess Watkin's initial breezy cameo of 62 runs, played an important part in New Zealand scoring over 150 runs in just 15 overs.  The 17-year-old Amelia Kerr also proved to be a capable and talented middle-order batter and scored 15 runs in the final over.

Ireland were beaten in every sphere, and they didn't show improvement as a bowling unit by not getting break-throughs at crucial points in time. Cara Murray picked a couple of wickets but was an expensive bowler, as her economy rate shot to over 11 an over.

Ireland, in an obligation to chase a mammoth total, were not in a position to even reach half the score, as they were bowled out for 144 runs. Leigh Kasperek struck later in the innings to break the 63 runs partnership between Laura Delany and Jennifer Gray, which was the only notable performance in the 2nd innings. Hannah Rowe picked 2 wickets, whereas Ebrahim, Kerr and Paterson picked 1 wicket each.

After smashing the highest total of all time, the second innings was also dominated by New Zealand, with fine performances by Kasperek and Rowe.

This is the 4th highest margin of victory, and it showed the scale of New Zealand's batting and bowling strength. All thanks to the superlative effort by the skipper and Green, and the spectacular performance by the whole team, New Zealand lead the ODI series by 1-0.