Captain Suzie Bates and batter Maddy Green have struck centuries against Ireland to help the White Ferns post 490/4, the highest score in one-day international cricket history in their first ODI on Friday (local time).
Bates hit two sixes and 24 boundaries to score 151 runs from 94 balls, while middle-order player Green scored 121 runs with one six and 15 boundaries.
The visitors bowled out Ireland for 144 to win the match by 346 runs.
New Zealand shattered a 21-year-old record that they previously set when they scored 455/5 against Pakistan at Christchurch in 1997. The highest ODI score in the men's game was set in 2016, when England scored 444/3 against Pakistan at Nottingham.
"It's unbelievable," said Bates, who scored her 10th ODI century. "To set a world record for men's and women's cricket is special, and it's going to take a bit to chase it down."
Bates reached 4192 ODI runs to surpass Debbie Hockley (4064) as the all-time leading run-scorer for the New Zealand women's team.
"When it happened and came over the loud speaker, I did actually have a bit of a moment, because you think about the hard work you have done and the people who have helped you get here," said Bates.
"Debbie was a player that the team looked up to and that 2000 World Cup team was a real inspiration to us."
Bates' 94-ball innings featured a strike rate of 160.63, the second-highest in an innings of 100 or more in women's ODI cricket.
The White Ferns belted a whopping 64 fours and seven sixes, and produced century stands for the first two wickets - the first time a team has done this since 2000.
Bates and Watkin's 172-run opening stand was the sixth highest in the White Ferns history, and incredibly Bates has been involved in 27 100-run ODI partnerships for her country.
Amelia Kerr and debutant Jess Watkin also chipped in with half-centuries.
New Zealand were particularly harsh on Ireland legspinner Cara Murray, who went for 119 runs in her 10 overs.
The two teams will face each other on Sunday in the second fixture of the three-match series.
Reuters/Newshub
