Summary

  • First ODI, Leicester - England win toss & bowl

  • England need 282 to win - would be their record ODI chase

  • Ireland 281-5 (50 overs): Lewis 69 (89), Hunter 62 (90), Stokell 54* (48); Dean 2-44

  • Listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary at top of page

Have your say on England women this summer

Live Reporting

by Timothy Abraham

  1. How's stat?!

    Phil Long
    BBC Test Match Special statistician

    This is England's highest opening partnership against Ireland in women's ODIs.

  2. Kirstie Gordon
    Scotland and former England spinner on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    That's bad, I'm afraid. Arlene Kelly needed to react quicker. She was glued to the spot in those first few seconds.

  3. Eng 135-0

    Sophia Dunkley gets down low to slog sweep Cara Murray's first ball, dropped short, after the drinks break for four.

    Her final delivery is skied over the head of Arlene Kelly at mid-on but she cannot get herself under the ball to turn it into a genuine catching chance.

    Gaby Lewis claps her hands trying to lift her players, and keep them believing.

  4. Kirstie Gordon
    Scotland and former England spinner on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Trademark Dunkley. It doesn't look like it should go through mid-off but she closes the bat and times it beautifully.

  5. England 125-0 at drinks

    Sophia Dunkley thumps Kia McCartney down the ground for four before the players take drinks.

    England cruising.

    Ireland toiling.

  6. Eng 120-0

    Maia Bouchier has fifty of her own.

    The England opener skips down the pitch to Kia McCartney and chips it for four wide of deep mid-wicket then scampers a couple more.

    Bouchier reaches her half-century - off 53 balls - with a late cut for a single.

  7. Eng 113-0

    Cara Murray's leg-spin is called up on by Ireland captain Gaby Lewis.

    However, Murray's first ball is dragged down and Sophia Dunkley makes no mistake - slashing it behind square for four.

    Murray recovers with three dots before a single apiece for Dunkley and Maia Bouchier.

    England in cruise control.

  8. Daniel Norcross
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    A dark cloud is encroaching.

  9. Eng 107-0

    Plain sailing so far for England.

    Charlotte Edwards will be sitting a little more comfortably in her seat.

  10. Katherine Sciver-Brunt
    Ex-England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Sophia Dunkley won't go about this conservatively. It will be a continuation of what we have seen already.

  11. 50 runs

    Half-century for Dunkley

    Sophia Dunkley has a half-century off 40 balls after hammering Kia McCartney through the covers for four.

  12. Eng 99-0

    Sophia Dunkley talking to herself to maintain focus. "Watch the ball" she mutters as Arlene Kelly ambles in.

    Kelly wrestles an over back for the Irish - having tweaked the field to drop long-on back - with three singles off it.

    England well in control here.

  13. Eng 96-0

    A couple of big swings from Sophia Dunkley and Maia Bouchier to Kia McCartney but the Irish spinner escapes from her second over without conceding a boundary.

    Hard to see where Ireland are going to get a wicket from here.

  14. How's stat?!

    Rufus Bullough
    CricViz analyst

    72-0 at the end of the powerplay is England's second highest score at the end of 10 overs without losing a wicket in ODI cricket. Their highest total (77-0 v West Indies) came in June last year, also in Leicester.

  15. Katherine Sciver-Brunt
    Ex-England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    This is a seam bowler and is 52mph. I think it was a small leg-cutter. Kelly rolled her wrist too much and if you do that at her pace...

  16. Eng 86-0

    Sophia Dunkley crunches Arlene Kelly through the covers for four, then scampers a couple more after a cut through point.

    Dunkley on to 47 off 34 balls.

  17. Katherine Sciver-Brunt
    Ex-England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I like the look of Kia McCartney. All of her deliveries were there or thereabouts. The problem for her is she has come on when Maia Bouchier and Sophia Dunkley are set.

  18. Eng 77-0

    Spinner Kia McCartney tossed the ball by Gaby Lewis.

    Sophia Dunkley and Maia Bouchier content to milk her for singles.

    Five runs off the over.

  19. How's stat?!

    Rufus Bullough
    CricViz analyst

    Sophia Dunkley has been focussing on her offside play against seam for a few years now after registering just 38% of her runs through the offside in 2023. Since then her proportion of runs on that side of the field has been increasing, with 54% of her runs against pace this year coming through the offside.

  20. Eng 72-0

    Arlene Kelly invites Sophia Dunkley to drive with a bit of width and the England opener RSVPs with a thwack for four through the covers.