Connor followed up her fifty against Sri Lanka with another fine effort

England maintained winning ways with another consummate win in the Women's World Cup in South Africa, beating Ireland by 128 runs on Saturday.

A stand of 128 between skipper Clare Connor and Arran Brindle neatly proved the difference between the sides as England hit 221-6 in Eesterust.

In reply, Ireland were 93-8, surviving the 50 overs but at no stage getting themselves into a position to win.

Veteran seamer Clare Taylor took 2-13 while Connor had figures of 2-14.

She's a great team-mate and is so team-focused Clare Connor on Clare Taylor Quotes: Connor's verdict

Taylor, playing in her 101st one-day international, took her tally to 100 victims, becoming only the second woman to achieve the feat after Australian Cathryn Fitzpatrick.

Connor and Brindle had come together with England apparently in trouble on 79-4 after winning the toss.

But Connor anchored the innings with an unbeaten knock of 82 off 114 balls, while Brindle picked up the pace late on with 51 off 60 balls.

Barbara McDonald was the pick of five individual wicket-takers for Ireland, returning 1-22 with five maidens.

Ireland had England on the rack before the fifth-wicket comeback

England were given a decent start by Charlotte Edwards and Laura Newton, the first-wicket pair putting on 48 runs inside 13 overs.

But seven runs after Newton was bowled by Jill Whelan for 23, Edwards was caught behind off McDonald for 21 to leave England on 55-2.

Lydia Greenway and Nicki Shaw both perished for single-figure scores to give Ireland the edge, but Connor and Brindle soon reclaimed the initiative.

Connor's first-day duck against Australia is now a distant memory, and her fifth one-day half-century was notable in that included no boundaries or sixes.

That was left to Brindle, who helped herself to two fours and a six and complemented her skipper's salvage act in a vital partnership.

The Ireland reply was in peril immediately when Lucy Pearson picked up a wicket off the fifth ball of the innings.

Taylor's wickets and the run out of Jillian Smythe left the score on 55-4 after 28 overs and the best individual score was provided by Clare Shillington's 17.

England Women: C M Edwards, L K Newton, L Greenway, C J Connor (Capt), R A Birch, N J Shaw, J L Gunn, A Brindle, J Smit (Wkt), C E Taylor, L C Pearson.