New Zealand beat Ireland by eight wickets

New Zealand's women made up for a poor day in the field by batting in outstanding fashion to beat Ireland by eight wickets in the second match of their three-game series at Malahide in Dublin today.

Ireland won the toss and batted first and took advantage of some poor catching, which TelstraClear White Ferns coach Mike Shrimpton said reached epidemic proportions, and which would have been roundly punished by a stronger opponent.

Caitriona Beggs scored 56 off 108 balls to dominate the Irish innings which saw them reach 176 before they were all out in 47 overs.

Wellington's Frances King had the best day with the ball taking four for 27 from seven overs while Haidee Tiffen took three for 22 from her six overs. Aimee Mason opening the bowling and got through her full 10 overs and took one for 22.

Shimpton said the Irish took it to the New Zealand bowlers and played some aggressive shots.

"But if our fielding was poor, our batting got into full stride," he said.

Rebecca Rolls continued her outstanding form on the tour by scoring 86 off 83 balls, including 12 fours while Kate Pulford scored 40 off 43 balls. Captain Emily Drumm was 40 not out, and Tiffen was with her on seven when the winning runs were achieved in the 31st over.

Catherine O'Neill, a New Zealand-born former Northern Districts player, took the two White Ferns wickets to fall.

The two teams meet again on Saturday.

New Zealand was achieving its pre-tour goal of playing the game at pace and had been most effective in doing that with the bat today, Shrimpton said.

The players had made the transfer from indoor conditions in New Zealand's winter to the outdoors in the Netherlands and Ireland remarkably quickly and the only real problem the side has struck has been juggling the batting so that all players had a reasonable chance for time in the middle.

The top order has been scoring so effectively that it has been tough for some players to get a chance to bat.

Shrimpton said coaching days run by the side in both the Netherlands and Ireland had been hugely successful and parents who have watched have been delighted with the quality of the coaching, but also astonished by the involvement of the New Zealand women and their level of skill.