KEY POINTS:
Brendon McCullum and James Marshall scored maiden one-day international cricket centuries in style today as a rampant New Zealand outclassed Ireland by a record margin in Aberdeen.
McCullum made up for a few quiet ODIs against England with 166 off 135 balls and Marshall 161 off 141 as the Black Caps won by 290 runs in their first match of a triangular series involving Scotland as well.
Both had 11 fours and McCullum 10 sixes and Marshall four against a weakened Irish attack at Mannofield Park in Aberdeen.
New Zealand scored 402 for two in their 50 overs while Ireland managed just 112.
The opening stand of 274 between McCullum and Marshall was only 12 runs short of the world record set by Upul Tharanga and Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka against England two years ago and the fifth-highest ODI partnership.
Ireland, already depleted by players opting to stay with their counties and a host of others unavailable, were struck by another late injury blow when allrounder Alex Cusack withdrew with a broken finger.
Captain Kyle McCallan, Andre Botha and Reinhardt Strydom were the only players remaining from Ireland's last ODI, against Bangladesh, in Dhaka.
New Zealand, after ending a stressful tour of England that ended with one-day success, looked relaxed in their approach, Cricinfo reported.
Peter Connell beat the bat a couple of times early on, but otherwise the batsmen were never in trouble.
McCullum decided it was time to take charge in the seventh over.
Lashing out, he hit two skiers off Connell over the covers, beyond the reach of the fielders, taking two runs apiece. The next two went for four, and he was set. Philip Eaglestone went for successive sixes over long leg and midwicket, and McCullum raced to his 50 off 37 balls.
He slowed down a little but lofted two successive sixes and was away again.
His 100 came off 107 balls, and then his onslaught became so fierce that his next 50 took only 20 more deliveries.
With the world record ODI opening partnership record beckoning - and the first ODI double century on offer - McCullum was out to a fine boundary catch as he tried to lift another six.
New Zealand's 290-run triumph eclipsed the previous record for the largest win (by runs) by 33 runs.
Marshall and McCullum became the first opening pair to pile up 150-plus scores in the same innings.
New Zealand's total of 402 for two was their best in ODIs, and the sixth ODI total over 400, beating their 397 for five against a decimated Zimbabwe two years ago.
The 266-run stand between Marshall and McCullum was by far New Zealand's highest ODI partnership, and the second-best opening stand in ODIs.
The 18 sixes hit by New Zealand, Ross Taylor hit four of them, equalled the record for most sixes by a team in a one-dayer.
McCullum was just two hits short of the record for most sixes in an innings by a batsman.
Marshall had been overshadowed, but when McCullum left he took over his mantle and began to hit out. In fact the hectic scoring rate actually increased, with Taylor also cashing in.
Marshall's century came up off 120 balls and a further 50 came in the next 14, exceeding McCullum's rate.
In the final over he skied a catch, well held by the bowler, and departed for 161 off 141 deliveries. Taylor finished with an unbeaten 59 off 24.
"If this had been a boxing match, the referee would have stepped in long before, but Ireland had to keep going to the bitter end," Cricinfo's John Ward wrote.
"Their only realistic hope was to put up a good enough batting display to allow themselves to finish with dignity and to score more than 146, which would enable them to avoid the heaviest defeat in ODI history - India's World Cup victory over Bermuda by 257 runs in 2007."
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand
J Marshall c Wilson b Strydom 161
B McCullum c Haire b Eaglestone 166
R Taylor not out 59
D Flynn not out 0
Extras (4b, 7lb, 5w) 16
Total (for 2 wkts, 50 overs) 402
Fall: 266 (McCullum, 380 (Marshall).
Bowling: P Connell 9-0-95-0 (1w), P Eaglestone 7-0-6-1 (3w), R Strydom 8-0-63-1 (1w), A Botha 10-0-66-0, W McCallan 8-0-55-0, G Kidd 8-0-52-0.
Ireland
R Strydom c Taylor b Mason 11
G Wilson b Southee 21
P Stirling c Hopkins b Oram 4
A Botha c Hopkins b Southee 6
A White c Hopkins b Mason 7
R Haire b Mason 2
A Poynter c Hopkins b Southee 7
W McCallan c Hopkins b Patel 10
G Kidd c Taylor b Elliott 15
P Connell not out 22
P Eaglestone run out (Southee) 4
Extras (2w, 1nb) 3
Total (28.4 overs) 112
Fall: 28 (Strydom, 32 (Wilson), 40 (Botha) 48 (White), 53 (Haire), 53 (Stirling), 65 (Poynter), 71 (McCallan) 94 (Kidd), 112 (Eaglestone)
Bowling: T Southee 6-0-22-3, (1w), M Mason 7-0-35-3 (1nb), J Oram 5-0-9-1, J Patel 5.4-2-24-1, G Elliott 5-1-22-1.
Result: New Zealand won by 290 runs
Toss Ireland, who chose to field first
Points: New Zealand 2, Ireland 0
- NZPA
