A composed century from Sophia Dunkley helped England complete a series whitewash over Ireland in the third ODI at Worcester on Sunday, though a late batting collapse left the result closer than expected.
England, batting first for the first time in the series, appeared set for a sizeable total after aggressive stroke play from Dunkley, who scored 119, and Maia Bouchier, who contributed 39. However, the innings faded as the final six wickets fell for 31 runs, with England bowled out for 291 in 48.5 overs.
Ireland's reply began strongly, led by captain Gaby Lewis, whose powerful hitting sent one delivery out of the ground onto the concrete concourse, forcing the umpires to replace the ball. But Lewis's dismissal, top-edging a bouncer from Lauren Filer into the deep, slowed the chase and the required rate climbed beyond reach.
The performance, despite the 3-0 result, leaves England's head coach Charlotte Edwards with questions to address as she works to develop this new-look squad into Ashes contenders.
England's two young players, 21-year-old Jodi Grewcock and 19-year-old Tilly Corteen-Coleman, are yet to make a decisive impact. Grewcock, given opportunities at No 3, scored 35 on Sunday but faced 26 balls before finding the boundary. Left-arm spinner Corteen-Coleman found some turn on the Worcester pitch, dismissing Alice Tector and bowling Louise Little, though she remains behind Sophie Ecclestone and Linsey Smith in the selection order.
The experiment of using Alice Capsey as wicketkeeper also continues to be assessed, though she took two stumpings, the second a sharp effort off a Ryana MacDonald-Gay bouncer, as Ireland were bowled out for 177.
Earlier, Lewis won the toss and announced that all-rounder Arlene Kelly would retire from international cricket. Kelly, who grew up in New Zealand, received a surprise call-up from then-coach Ed Joyce while playing domestic cricket in Ireland in 2022. She went on to represent Ireland 110 times and take more than 100 wickets before deciding to return to New Zealand.
Handed the new ball in her final ODI, Kelly claimed one wicket, with MacDonald-Gay caught at long-on in the 48th over. Leg-spinner Cara Murray finished with figures of four for 56.
Grewcock chipped a return catch to Murray, Freya Kemp and Mady Villiers were caught in the deep, and Murray beat Charlie Dean to take her edge.
Dunkley's second ODI century, her first since 2022, anchored England's innings. Having missed the early summer ODIs against New Zealand to manage her workload, she demonstrated her suitability as an opener, scoring 73 in the first match and displaying all-round shot-making here with drives down the ground and scoops behind square.
Dani Gibson matched her highest England score with 41 off 37 but was run out in the penultimate over, leaving England short of 300 in their final match of the summer, though 291 proved sufficient.
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