Sports06 September, 20262 min read
Sophia Dunkley Hits 119 As England Sweep Ireland 3-0 In Third ODI At Worcester
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Dunkley scored 119 on 119 balls as England posted 291 all out. England won by 114 runs to complete the 3-0 series sweep.
Dunkley’s 119 seals sweep
Sophia Dunkley struck 119 off 119 balls as England swept Ireland 3-0 with a 114-run win in the third and final one-day international at Worcester, finishing on 291 all out in 48.5 overs. England’s innings began with a 73-run opening partnership with Maia Bouchier and then a 110-run stand for the second wicket with Jodi Grewcock, before a late collapse saw them lose their last six wickets for 31 runs. Ireland were bowled out for 177 in 44.2 overs, with Cara Murray taking 4-56 as the visitors failed to sustain their chase.
Sky Sports said England were inserted by Ireland and still got to 291 after collapsing from 260-4 to 291 all out, while BBC reported Dunkley’s run-a-ball 119 set up the total before Ireland were dismissed in 44.2 overs. Cricbuzz also described Dunkley as Player of the Match for her 119 off 119 balls as England defended 291 after being put in to bat at New Road in Worcester.
Quotes and match turning points
After England’s collapse from 260-4 to 291 all out, the BBC highlighted that Ireland’s chase never truly gathered momentum, with no Irish batter able to score at a strike-rate above 100. The Guardian quoted England head coach Charlotte Edwards saying, “We came into this series with the intention and the goal of beating Ireland 3-0 and we’ve done that,” framing the sweep as the experiment’s payoff. Sky Sports reported that Dunkley’s century came as she “struck a run-a-ball century - her second in ODI cricket,” and it also credited Lauren Filer with 3-27 as Ireland were skittled for 177.
The Independent added that Ireland were never close to threatening the total, and it noted Orla Prendergast thought she had trapped Dunkley in front before the replay showed the ball had hit the bat. Cricbuzz described Ireland’s chase as starting positively but then losing captain Gaby Lewis for 16 early in the fifth over, before Tector and Hunter built 56 for the second wicket.
Next fixtures and player exits
With the series complete, the BBC said England’s next confirmed games will come at the Champions Trophy in February, while a multi-format series against West Indies in the autumn and three ODIs against Sri Lanka are in the schedule but with dates not released.
The BBC also said England’s international summer ended with this third ODI, and it pointed to the unusual context of key stars such as Lauren Bell, Sophie Ecclestone and Nat Sciver-Brunt being rested.
The Guardian reported that Arlene Kelly’s retirement from international cricket was announced during the third ODI, and it detailed that Kelly has represented her adopted nation 110 times and taken 136 wickets.
The Independent and Cricbuzz both marked Kelly’s final international appearance as she ended her 110th and final match for Ireland, with Cricbuzz noting it was also the match where she retired from international cricket.
Revsportz added that Dunkley shared her post-match goal, saying: “It was great to get the series win. Nice to be back at the top of the order.”