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Superb Dunkley innings ended on 119 by Prendergast boundary catch
Third ODI, New Road, Worcester
England 291 (48.5 overs): Dunkley 119 (119); Murray 4-56
Ireland 177 (44.2 overs): Hunter 39 (58); Filer 3-27
England won by 114 runs; win series 3-0
Sophia Dunkley's sparkling century led England to a comprehensive 114-run win in the third and final one-day international against Ireland at Worcester.
Dunkley's run-a-ball 119 set up England's 291 before Ireland were bowled out for 177 in 44.2 overs, sealing a 3-0 clean sweep for Charlie Dean's side.
England were eyeing a record total after opener Dunkley's second international century, but the innings fell away from 260-4 and they frustratingly lost their last six wickets for just 31 runs to be dismissed with seven balls unused.
Dunkley added 73 for the first wicket with Maia Bouchier, who continued her fine run of form with 39, before Jodi Grewcock also wasted a good start as she was caught and bowled for 35 and Alice Capsey was unlucky to be run out backing up for 10.
All-rounders Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson threatened to push England beyond 300 but it was the former's wicket that kickstarted the collapse as she was caught at long-on for 23 and a run of single-figure scores followed, though Gibson kicked on to an ODI-best 41.
Leg-spinner Cara Murray was the pick of Ireland's bowlers with 4-56 as the visitors fought back admirably, and England only managed to hit seven boundaries after Dunkley's departure in the 36th over.
Despite the disappointing end to the innings, England still had plenty on the board in another non-contest between bat and ball.
Amy Hunter top-scored with 39 but no Irish batter was able to score at a strike-rate above 100 and the run-rate spiralled beyond their grasp, as Mady Villiers and Lauren Filer took three wickets apiece.
The final match of the series concludes England's international summer. Their next confirmed games will come at the Champions Trophy in February, though a multi-format series against West Indies in the autumn and three ODIs against Sri Lanka are in the schedule, but the dates have not been released.
This has been a series with an unusual context for England.
Key stars such as Lauren Bell, Sophie Ecclestone and Nat Sciver-Brunt have been rested, which has presented opportunities to experiment with the likes of fringe players in Grewcock and Corteen-Coleman.
But the curious cricketing calendar means they have few opportunities to play the format, with the autumn schedule still unconfirmed and their next home ODI coming in the Ashes next summer, meaning they have been simultaneously seeking stability.
The opening partnership was one question that needed answering after Tammy Beaumont's retirement earlier this year, and a century apiece for Dunkley and Bouchier in this series has seen them take their chance.
Of course, Ireland's bowling attack is incomparable to Australia's and to cite this as Ashes preparation would be very unrealistic, but England can only play the schedule they are given.
Dunkley had been threatening in the first two games, falling for 73 at Leicester before she was stitched up by Bouchier's poor running at Derby - but she was not to be denied a third time.
The 28-year-old started patiently, reaching her half-century off 63 balls after Bouchier dominated the strike early on, before kicking on and whacking her next fifty off just 37.
A notable change to her game has been her improvement through the off-side, scoring her runs almost equally split across both sides of the wicket - a big change for a player previously known for her leg-side dominance.
Ireland tested her with the short ball and forced her to hit to the sweepers, which she handled efficiently before her eventual downfall as she was brilliantly caught by Prendergast at deep square leg.
Sciver-Brunt is likely to slot straight back in at number three, and England have a decision to make about whether Capsey keeps the gloves over Amy Jones, but for now, Dunkley and Bouchier have solved one of coach Charlotte Edwards' headaches.
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