Shillington hundred gives Ireland perfect start

Century for Clare Shillington

A record breaking hundred from Clare Shillington helped Ireland crush Japan in their T20 World Cup qualifying opener at The Hills.

Shillington, Ireland's most capped player, became the first Irish woman to score a Twenty20 century, smashing an unbeaten 114 from just 72 balls as Ireland racked up a mammoth 170 for 1 against a hapless Japan side.

The Malahide opener dominated an opening stand of 36 with Isobel Joyce before the skipper went for just 5.

Shillington and Cecelia Joyce then added an unbroken 134 from just 83 balls, benefitting from a pathetic fielding display by the Japanese which included five dropped catches and numerous misfields.

Shillington's 114 included 13 fours and two sixes, one of which took her to her historic hundred.

Cecelia Joyce was slightly more circumspect - her undefeated 40 taking 41 deliveries and containing four boundaries.

In reply, Japan were never in contention, limping to 53 all out in 18.2 overs, with only Kubota (11) and Yamamoto (10) reaching double figures.

If the Irish  batting was dominated by the veterans, then it was the turn of the young guns in the bowling department.

Teenagers Elena Tice (3-10), Lucy O'Reilly (2-9), and Kim Garth (2-10) ripped through the brittle Japanese line-up, helped by Melissa Scott-Hayward (2-8).

Ireland then get their T20 World Cup campaign off to a flying start - there will be sterner challenges ahead in the days to come if they are to clinch one of the three slots on offer for Bangladesh in 2014.